Algorithmic Lattice Kirigami: A Route to Pluripotent Materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel inverse design approach for kirigami-based materials, enabling the transformation of flat sheets into complex 3D structures through programmable cut and fold patterns.

Contribution

It presents a new method using defect arrays and a fixed cut lattice to create versatile, programmable kirigami surfaces with multiple target configurations.

Findings

Design scheme using disclination defect pairs for target surfaces

A general method for fixed cut lattice enabling multiple shapes

Demonstration of pluripotent kirigami capable of various configurations

Abstract

We use a regular arrangement of kirigami elements to demonstrate an inverse design paradigm for folding a flat surface into complex target configurations. We first present a scheme using arrays of disclination defect pairs on the dual to the honeycomb lattice; by arranging these defect pairs properly with respect to each other and choosing an appropriate fold pattern a target stepped surface can be designed. We then present a more general method that specifies a fixed lattice of kirigami cuts to be performed on a flat sheet. This single "pluripotent" lattice of cuts permits a wide variety of target surfaces to be programmed into the sheet by changing the folding directions.