Mio Madeline Crilley
Research Mentor(s): Royan D’Mello
Mentor Department: Aerospace Engineering
Authors: Colin Hunter, Royan D’Mello, Mio Crilley
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 61
Abstract
Uniform tubular structures under compression are typically known to experience axial deformation. However, understanding the mechanical behavior of functionally structured tubes, such as origami-based designs (e.g., Kresling), can provide insights into developing models for structures that exhibit compression-torsion coupling and energy absorption. This study focuses on analyzing the behavior of Kresling units using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with ABAQUS, considering various wall thicknesses and geometric parameters. The Kresling units are designed by modifying the base vertical height (28.3 mm) and adjusting the interior angles of 110°, 30°, and 40°, which were derived from a previously published paper by Royan D’Mello (Assistant Research Scientist – Aerospace Engineering) who is also the mentor on this project, and Colin Hunter, a senior undergraduate student in the Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan. The modifications in design of the individual Kresling unit, using finite element analysis, will lead to the development of a simple mathematical model that relates the geometric parameters (such as Kresling unit height, angle and wall thickness) to the peak rotation and peak force within a Kresling unit. Building upon the design insights and the resulting model, the study will involve the fabrication and testing of larger tubes composed of multiple Kresling units. This process includes 3D printing CAD files from SolidWorks and Blender with materials PLA and TPU, followed by testing the printed structures in a load frame. The resulting data will be analyzed to evaluate how the physical behavior of the tubes aligns with the predictions made by the finite element analysis.
