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Bioinspired Pattern-Driven Single-Material 4D Printing for Self-Morphing Actuators

Author

Listed:
  • Yousif Saad Alshebly

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Khameel B. Mustapha

    (Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Ali Zolfagharian

    (School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia)

  • Mahdi Bodaghi

    (Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK)

  • Mohamed Sultan Mohamed Ali

    (School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia)

  • Haider Abbas Almurib

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Marwan Nafea

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia)

Abstract

Four-dimensional (4D) printing of shape memory polymers is a leading research field due to the possibilities allowed by using these materials. The strain difference in the structures that is caused by the different stiffness profiles can be used to influence the shape-memory effect in the actuators. In this study, the influence of patterns on the strain is tested in polylactic acid (PLA) actuators using patterns made of different shapes. Five bioinspired geometrical shapes, namely, circles, squares, hexagons, rhombuses, and triangles, are used in the three-dimensional (3D) printing of the actuators. The use of shapes of different sizes along with combinations of different patterns in the PLA actuators is carried out to develop 40 actuators with different designs. The effects of the patterns and their characteristics are analysed and compared. The self-bending angles of the actuators range from 6.19° to 30.86°, depending on the patterns and arrangement used. To demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the proposed designs in practical applications, a hand-like shaped gripper is developed. The results show that the gripper can grip objects with uniform and non-uniform cross-sections. The developed gripper demonstrates that the proposed concept can be implemented in various applications, including self-morphing structures and soft robotics.

Suggested Citation

  • Yousif Saad Alshebly & Khameel B. Mustapha & Ali Zolfagharian & Mahdi Bodaghi & Mohamed Sultan Mohamed Ali & Haider Abbas Almurib & Marwan Nafea, 2022. "Bioinspired Pattern-Driven Single-Material 4D Printing for Self-Morphing Actuators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:10141-:d:889267
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. William Patrick Ryan-Johnson & Larson Curtis Wolfe & Christopher Roder Byron & Jacquelyn Kay Nagel & Hao Zhang, 2021. "A Systems Approach of Topology Optimization for Bioinspired Material Structures Design Using Additive Manufacturing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Ali Zolfagharian & Mahdi Bodaghi & Ramin Hamzehei & Liam Parr & Mohammad Fard & Bernard F. Rolfe, 2022. "3D-Printed Programmable Mechanical Metamaterials for Vibration Isolation and Buckling Control," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Panagiotis Karayannis & Stratos Saliakas & Ioannis Kokkinopoulos & Spyridon Damilos & Elias P. Koumoulos & Eleni Gkartzou & Julio Gomez & Constantinos Charitidis, 2022. "Facilitating Safe FFF 3D Printing: A Prototype Material Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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