This paper deals with a concept for a reconfigurable structure bio-inspired by the cell wall architecture of euglenids, a family of unicellular protists, and based on the relative sliding of adjacent strips. Uniform sliding turns a cylinder resulting from the assembly of straight and parallel strips into a cylinder of smaller height and larger radius, in which the strips are deformed into a family of parallel helices. We examine the mechanics of this cylindrical assembly, in which the interlocking strips are allowed to slide freely at their junctions, and compute the external forces (axial force and axial torque at the two ends, or pressure on the lateral surface) necessary to drive and control the shape changes of the composite structure. Despite the simplicity of the structure, we find a remarkably complex mechanical behaviour that can be tuned by the spontaneous curvature or twist of the strips.

Smart helical structures inspired by the pellicle of euglenids / Noselli, Giovanni; Arroyo Balaguer, Marino; De Simone, Antonio. - In: JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS. - ISSN 0022-5096. - 123:February(2019), pp. 234-246. [10.1016/j.jmps.2018.09.036]

Smart helical structures inspired by the pellicle of euglenids

Giovanni Noselli
;
Marino Arroyo;Antonio De Simone
2019-01-01

Abstract

This paper deals with a concept for a reconfigurable structure bio-inspired by the cell wall architecture of euglenids, a family of unicellular protists, and based on the relative sliding of adjacent strips. Uniform sliding turns a cylinder resulting from the assembly of straight and parallel strips into a cylinder of smaller height and larger radius, in which the strips are deformed into a family of parallel helices. We examine the mechanics of this cylindrical assembly, in which the interlocking strips are allowed to slide freely at their junctions, and compute the external forces (axial force and axial torque at the two ends, or pressure on the lateral surface) necessary to drive and control the shape changes of the composite structure. Despite the simplicity of the structure, we find a remarkably complex mechanical behaviour that can be tuned by the spontaneous curvature or twist of the strips.
2019
123
February
234
246
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022509618308317?via%3Dihub
Noselli, Giovanni; Arroyo Balaguer, Marino; De Simone, Antonio
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/86114
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