Paper Number
PO119
Session
Poster Session
Title
Material selection design tools for nonlinear elastic solids in soft machines
Presentation Date and Time
October 23, 2019 (Wednesday) 6:30
Track / Room
Poster Session / Ballroom C on 4th floor
Authors
- Darling, Carolyn N. (University of Illinois, Mechanical Engineering)
- Ewoldt, Randy H. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering)
Author and Affiliation Lines
Carolyn N. Darling and Randy H. Ewoldt
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Speaker / Presenter
Darling, Carolyn N.
Text of Abstract
Soft machine design is a new frontier for using rheologically complex materials, however we lack a systematic design toolbox for such efforts. We study existing design tools, identify limitations, and present new design tools for rheologically-complex soft solids. We identify material properties and features that may be vital for optimal soft machine performance, such as intrinsic nonlinearities, variable stiffness, and strain to break. Keeping these properties in mind, we explore new design-based organizations of knowledge: (i) design motivated constitutive modeling, (ii) Ashby-style material selection charts, and (iii) material formulation recipes. As a result, we develop new Ashby-style diagrams with properties not typically reported, include soft materials that tend to be missing from material databases, and organize knowledge in a way that streamlines material selection for soft machines. Soft robot actuators, grippers, and skins, as well as medical devices, are just a few of the many soft systems that may benefit from the proposed soft machine design tools.