Multi-Physically Programmable Tubular Origami Metamaterials: Exploitable Nexus of Geometry, Folding Mechanics and Stimuli-Responsive Physics.

Abstract

Metamaterials and metastructures developed based on tubular origami-inspired structural forms can leverage the convolution of geometry, crease mechanics and stimuli-responsive physics to provide unique mechanical and functional properties, including geometric efficiency and compactness, deployability and reconfigurability, structural integration ability in complex shapes, stiffness and strength modulation, constitutive programming and deformation mode coupling, high specific energy absorption, multi-stability, and programmable dynamic behavior, leading to diverse applications in the field of mechanical, robotics, space, electronic devices and communication, biomedical, and architecture. With stupendous advancement over the last decade in computational and manufacturing capabilities to realize complex crease architectures along with on-demand programmability through coupling folding-driven mechanics with stimuli-responsive physics of electrical or magnetic fields, temperature, light, controlled chemical reactions, and pneumatic actuation, the field of origami-inspired mechanical metamaterials has been attracting wide attention due to immense potential of achieving unprecedented multi-physical and multi-functional attributes that are typically not attainable in naturally-occurring materials or traditional structures. This article endeavours to review the developments reported in relevant literature concerning mechanical and multi-physical property modulation of tubular origami metamaterials, highlighting the broad-spectrum potential in innovative applications across the length scales along with critically analysing the emerging trends, challenges and potential future research landscape.