Physics Commons^™

When To Hold And When To Fold: Studies On The Topology Of Origami And Linkages, Mary Elizabeth Lee

Doctoral Dissertations

Linkages and mechanisms are pervasive in physics and engineering as models for a
variety of structures and systems, from jamming to biomechanics. With the increase
in physical realizations of discrete shape-changing materials, such as metamaterials,
programmable materials, and self-actuating structures, an increased understanding
of mechanisms and how they can be designed is crucial. At a basic level, linkages
or mechanisms can be understood to be rigid bars connected at pivots around which
they can rotate freely. We will have a particular focus on origami-like materials, an
extension to linkages with the added constraint of faces. Self-actuated versions typ-
ically start …