Computational Design of Multi-Actuated 4D Printed Structures

4D Printing allows for the production of structures that can change their shape, function or properties in response to an external stimulus such as temperature or humidity, thus creating programmable and multifunctional structures. The technology relies on printable, active materials whose constitutive behavior is usually complex and typically involves anisotropies and nonlinearities. The range of available materials is continuously increasing, as are the capabilities of printers to produce multi-scale and multi-material structures. Therefore, the design of such structures is complex. Even though design by intuition can yield useful solutions, computational methods are required to tap into the full potential offered by 4D printing technology.

This research addresses specifically shape morphing problems, i.e. structures that modify their shape to meet predefined target shapes. Unlike existing approaches, this research considers multiple actuation principles within the same structure, enabling actuation by different stimuli. Such structures respond to more aspects of their environment than single-stimuli shape-morphing structures and incorporate a more complex behavior, taking adaptivity and multi-functionality to the next level.