Magneto-thermomechanically triggered active mechanical metamaterials -- untethered, reversible, reprogrammable transformations with shape locking

TL;DR

This paper introduces a magneto-thermomechanically triggered active metamaterial system that enables untethered, reversible, and reprogrammable shape transformations with shape locking, combining magnetic control and shape memory polymers.

Contribution

It presents a novel magneto-thermomechanical approach for reconfigurable metamaterials that does not require new materials synthesis or high energy for reprogramming.

Findings

Demonstrated untethered, reversible shape transformations

Achieved low-power reprogrammable deformations

Enabled shape locking with magnetic and thermomechanical control

Abstract

Future active metamaterials for reconfigurable structural applications require fast, untethered, reversible, and reprogrammable (multimodal) transformability with shape locking. Herein, we aim to construct and demonstrate a magneto-thermomechanical tool that enables a single material system to transform with untethered, reversible, low-powered reprogrammable deformations and shape locking via the application of magneto-thermomechanically triggered prestress on a shape memory polymer and structural instability with asymmetric magnetic torque. We demonstrate the mutual assistance of two physics concepts - magnetic control combined with the thermomechanical behavior of shape memory polymers, without requiring new materials synthesis and high-power energy for reprogramming. Our approach can open a new path of active metamaterials, flexible yet stiff soft robots, and multimodal morphing structures, where we can design them in reversible and reprogrammable ways.