Pseudo rigid body model for a nonlinear folding compliant mechanism

Journal article (2022)

Authors

Brianne Hargrove The Pennsylvania State University
Angela Nastevska Kentaur-Impex, Skopje
Mary Frecker The Pennsylvania State University
J. Jovanova Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Transport Engineering and Logistics (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2022 Brianne Hargrove, Angela Nastevska, Mary Frecker, J. Jovanova
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2022.105017
3D-printing Compliant mechanisms Hyperelasticity Superelasticity Shape memory alloys Pseudo rigid body model
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Published Date

2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Transport Engineering and Logistics

Abstract

Folding compliant mechanisms have the potential to be used for innovative designs tailored for specific applications such as energy absorption, shape morphing, or stress relief. This tailorability relies on multiple variables that define the geometric and material behavior. The combined effort of the geometric and material nonlinearity can emphasize certain features in the design that, individually, would not be possible. Folding as a concept is very important in origami engineering and requires careful choice in the design variables when it comes to dimensions and material properties. Finite element analyses for folding at the level of a unit cell, as well as the overall structural design, can be cumbersome and computationally expensive. Therefore, in this work, a segmented pseudo rigid body model that captures a high level of flexibility is developed for both a superelastic material, which is characterized using a shape memory alloy, and a hyperelastic, rubber-like material. By increasing the number of segments, the model allows the structure to undergo large deformations. The results from the segmented model are compared with FEA for the folding compliant mechanism. 3D-printing and experimental testing of the compliant mechanism is also explored.