RISUD Research Seminar - The Beauty of Folding: Extraordinary Mechanics and Acoustics of Origami Structures

Origami structures provide infinite inspiration for the development of self-folding robots, deployable aerospace structures, and innovative mechanical and acoustic metamaterials. Their extensive design flexibility, superior 3D shaping capabilities, rich folding deformations, and unconventional mechanical properties make them highly versatile. The folding behavior of these structures often involves significant nonlinear deformations or topological changes, leading to a variety of unconventional mechanical and acoustic characteristics. This presentation will begin by exploring the mechanical modeling of origami structures, incorporating both analytical and experimental approaches. It will highlight recent advancements in areas such as nonlinear-induced multistability dynamics, wave propagation dynamics, and transient dynamics. Following this, the seminar will focus on the exceptional acoustic tunability achieved through folding and its practical applications. This talk will conclude with a forward-looking perspective on future research directions in the mechanics and acoustics of origami structures, encompassing both research and application aspects.