Patent ID: 10850406

Abstract:
Non-planar shearing auxetic structures, devices, and methods are provided herein. In some embodiments, a non-planar shearing auxetic structure can include a mathematically compact surface with an auxetic pattern of repeating unit cells. The shearing auxetic structure can have a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, and, when in the compact configuration, can be configured to move to the expanded configuration while generating a net shear on the surface. Shearing auxetic structures can have handedness and, in some embodiments, multiple handed shearing auxetic structures can be joined to create rigid or semi-rigid composite structures, e.g., by arranging differently-handed structures concentrically wherein two or more structures lock against each other. Handed shearing auxetic structures can also provide actuators to convert rotation or other motion to translation, volume expansion, bending, twisting, etc. These structures have many applications, e.g., deployable structures such as pressure vessels, space habitats, fluid carrying vessels, soft robotics, toys, etc.