Sung‐Hoon Ahn

Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies provide the ability to fabricate initial prototypes from various model materials. Stratasys Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a typical RP process that can fabricate prototypes out of ABS plastic. To predict the mechanical behavior of FDM parts, it is critical to understand the material properties of the raw FDM process material, and the effect that FDM build parameters have on anisotropic material properties. This paper characterizes the properties of ABS pa

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are smart materials that are widely used to create intelligent devices because of their high energy density, actuation strain, and biocompatibility characteristics. Given their unique properties, SMAs are found to have significant potential for implementation in many emerging applications in mobile robots, robotic hands, wearable devices, aerospace/automotive components, and biomedical devices. Here, the state-of-the-art of thermal and magnetic SMA actuators in terms o

This paper describes the development of a biomimetic swimming robot based on the locomotion of a marine turtle. To realize the smooth, soft flapping motions of this type of turtle, a novel actuator was also developed, using a smart soft composite (SSC) structure that can generate bending and twisting motions in a simple, lightweight structure. The SSC structure is a composite consisting of an active component to generate the actuation force, a passive component to determine the twisting angle of

An experimental technique is described which can be used to measure simultaneously the three principal permeabilities of fiber reforms made of continuous or short fibers. The technique utilizes embedded optical fibers for detecting the position of the liquid front inside the reform. Expressions were derived for calculating the permeabilities from the three-dimensional measurement of the liquid front. Permeabilities measured by the present fiber optic and by the conventional, pressure drop and fl

Stratasys' Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a typical Rapid Prototyping (RP) process that can fabricate prototypes out of plastic materials, and the parts made from FDM were often used as load-carrying elements. Because FDM deposits materials in about 300 μm thin filament with designated orientation, parts made from FDM show anisotropic material behaviors. This paper proposes an analytic model to predict the tensile strength of FDM parts. Applying the Classical Lamination Theory and Tsai-Wu fa

A loop-linked structure, which is capable of morphing in various modes, including volumetric transformation, is developed based on knitting methods. Morphing flowers (a lily-like, a daffodil-like, gamopetalous, and a calla-like flower) are fabricated using loop patterning, and their blooming motion is demonstrated by controlling a current that selectively actuates the flowers petals.