Flexible joints for a grid-based multi-stable composite morphing skin. (1st March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Algmuni, A.; Xi, F.; Alighanbari, H.
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 259(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-01
• Subjects: Multi-patch composite laminate -- Multi-stable panels -- Connection of bi-stable patches -- Finite element analysis; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.113512
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: A new method for the development of a grid-based multi-stable composite morphing skin is presented. The proposed method is to join a number of bi-stable composite patches in a grid by attaching flexible strips in between as joints. The purpose is to improve stable configurations and reduce marginal stable (meta-stable) configurations. The behaviour of this morphing skin is studied using a finite element analysis method and validated experimentally. The results show a good agreement between the modeling and the experiment. Each test case exhibits a high number of distinct stable configurations. For a 2 × 2 grid, all 16 stable configurations are obtained, which shows the effectiveness of this new method. These stable configurations present more flexible shapes applicable to practical morphing skin applications.