Xiaoyu (Rayne) Zheng (Advisor)

The orientation of fibrous fillers, induced by shear forces during extrusion, has been demonstrated to significantly enhance mechanical properties, electrical/thermal conductivity, microwave attenuation etc., albeit primarily in a two-dimensional (2D) x-y plane. In this study, we present a novel approach for achieving fiber alignment in a three-dimensional (3D) context, with an emphasis on the Z-direction, by utilizing embedded 3D printing techniques. This process involves the extrusion and suspension of composite inks within a viscoelastic gel medium, during which the...

This work pertains to the multi-objective inverse design of impact-resistant metamaterials under varying strain rates. Impact-resistant materials are desirable in a wide range of applications, such as sports, automobiles, military, and aircraft, to name a few. Existing literature deals with refining these structures by performing quasi-static finite element (FE) simulations and then verifying them experimentally, which is a time-consuming and expensive process. Moreover, beyond the low-velocity regime, quasi-static simulations are not representative of real-world dynamic...

Texture sensing and feedback are critical milestones for unlocking truly dexterous robotics, advancing human-machine interaction, and enhancing teleoperation tasks. While existing systems utilizes pneumatics, vibration motors and other elementary methods to provide basic feedback, they lack the capability to translate data into rich, high-resolution haptic displays required to replicate the nuanced spectrum of human touch. Here, we aim to develop the first-ever fabrics capable of both high-fidelity contact sensing and reproducing touch experiences with the resolution and complexity of...