Shape-locking in architected materials through 3D printed magnetically activated joints

Shape morphing is the ability of objects to adapt to different shapes and reduce stress concentrations through increased contact area. This is a common trait of natural and engineered objects and has several applications in, among others, soft robotics and orthopedic implants. Shape morphing is achieved through flexible materials or rigid...

A multibody kinematic system approach for the design of shape-morphing mechanism-based metamaterials

Shape-morphing structures have the ability to adapt to various target shapes, offering significant advantages for many applications. However, predicting their behavior presents challenges. Here, we present a method to assess the shape-matching behavior of shape-morphing structures using a multibody systems approach wherein the structure is...

Three-dimensional analysis of shape variations and symmetry of the fibula, tibia, calcaneus and talus

The bones forming the talocrural joint (TCJ) and subtalar joint (STJ) are often assumed to be bilaterally symmetric. Therefore, the contralateral limb (i.e. the fibula, tibia, calcaneus and talus) is used as a template or an intra-subject control in clinical and research practice. However, the validity of the symmetry assumption is...