Browsing by Subject "chitosan biopolymer"
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Item 3D Printing of Compliant Passively Actuated 4D Structures(University of Texas at Austin, 2019) Jayashankar, Dhileep Kumar; Gupta, Sachin Sean; Stella, Loo Yi Ning; Tracy, KennethAdditive manufacturing has begun to revolutionize the production of various physical technologies that depend on bespoke geometry and tailored material properties for function. This includes the design of compliant mechanisms, which rely on an integral coupling between geometric and material parameters to attain the elastic flexibility necessary to accommodate programmed deformation. While kinetic structures with compliant parts are typically activated by the application of a mechanical force, alternative means of achieving motion are available, such as the use of smart, 4D, or stimuli-responsive materials which react to environmental conditions. In this research, a combination of compliant mechanisms and water-responsive chitosan biopolymers was explored to create flexible, programmable passive actuators, enabled by 3D printing. A set of compliant joints were modeled, simulated, fabricated, and tested to determine the optimal design for use in the actuator. The actuator was then iteratively tested with wetting and drying of chitosan films to invoke a specific shape change, which was analyzed for accuracy, speed, and consistency. The study concluded with a discussion of the implications of synthesizing compliant mechanisms, chitosan biopolymer, and additive manufacturing for next-generation adaptive structures.