This project is a collaboration with a team from USC, focusing on metamaterials that exhibit zero-energy deformation modes, often referred to as kinematic mechanisms.

The motion is driven by a well-known mechanism based on counter-rotating squares. When rotation is applied to a single panel, the motion immediately propagates and rotates the remaining panels in the structure. The geometry is fabricated from acrylic panels and joined by pins.

Following is one of the fabriated samples for this work. It also exhibits zero energy mode of deformation.

My primary role in this project involves the fabrication of more complex geometric samples and the design and execution of kinematics-based experiments to validate their large deformation behavior.

The preprint version of this paper is hosted on arXiv.