Seminar: Crossroads of Art and Engineering: Computational Tools for Origami Design

Dr. Philip R. Buskohl, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Functional Materials Division

Abstract

Origami structures morph between 2D and 3D conformations along predetermined fold lines that efficiently program the form, function and mobility of the structure. By leveraging design concepts from action origami, a subset of origami art focused on kinematic mechanisms, reversible folding patterns for applications such as solar array packaging, tunable antennae, and deployable sensing platforms may be designed by networking actuator units. However, the enormity of the design space and the need to identify the requisite actuation forces within the structure places a severe limitation on design strategies based on intuition and geometry alone. To address is challenge, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory origami team has developed computational design tools that predict the optimal fold topologies for target mechanical and electromagnetic performance criteria. Results include the validation of known action origami structures, such as the Chomper and Miura-Ori, as well as the identification of additional building blocks for actuation and their optimized connectivity within a larger network. Recent efforts have focused on the design of radio frequency selective surfaces that tune through the folding and unfolding of different types of origami tessellations. Together, these design tools offers an important step toward systematic incorporation of origami design concepts into new, novel and reconfigurable engineering devices.

About the Speaker

Philip R. Buskohl is a Research Mechanical Engineer in the Functional Materials Division at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. The Division delivers materials and processing solutions to revolutionize AF capabilities in Survivability, Directed Energy, Reconnaissance, Integrated Energy and Human Performance. Phil has authored over 15 peer-reviewed papers ranging from the mechanical properties of embryonic heart value development, chemical-mechanical feedback of self-oscillating gels, and origami design. He received his PhD degree in theoretical and applied mechanics from Cornell University in 2012. He was awarded the NSF GK-12 STEM teaching fellowship as part of his graduate training.

Hosted by Professor Ryan L. Harne