Morphing Structures

Hard-magnetic soft materials (HMSMs) consisting of an elastomer matrix filled with high remnant magnetic particles can exhibit flexible programmability and rapid shape changing under non-contact activation, showing promising potential applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices and flexible electronics. Precise predictions of large deformations of hard-magnetic soft materials would be a key for relevant applications.

Liu, M., Domino, L., de Dinechin, I. D., Taffetani, M., & Vella, D.* (2023). Snap-induced morphing: From a single bistable shell to the origin of shape bifurcation in interacting shells. J Mech. Phys. Solids, 170, 105116.

Zhang, Y., Yang, J., Liu, M.*, & Vella, D. (2022). Shape-morphing structures based on perforated kirigami. Extreme Mechanics Letters, 56, 101857.

Liu, M., Domino, L., & Vella, D.* (2020). Tapered elasticæ as a route for axisymmetric morphing structures. Soft Matter, 16(33), 7739-7750. 

Reconfigurable electronic devices that can be shaped in two or more stable geometries modifying their functionalities have been realized, as highlighted by the Cover of March 2018 Issue of Nature Materials.

A post-doctoral position is available in the Dept. of Chemical Engineering at the
University of Pittsburgh to conduct experimental research on developing
"morphing surfaces" that change topology by developing features such
as bumps, folds, spikes, etc. The post-doctoral fellow will develop (1)
surfaces that undergo a change in topology in response to applied stimuli, (2)
methods to control the shape and location of the morphing features on the
surface, and (3) quantitative or heuristic models to guide the design of
texture-changing surfaces.