Non-isometric origami

Abstract

Theoretical understanding of soft materials often relies upon models that apply at lengthscales and timescales many times larger than those of their molecular constituents. The resulting theories are robust and lead to an overarching understanding of many disparate systems that share the same symmetries in time and space. This proposal addresses the problem of the self-folding and mechanical properties of knit fabrics. Though knitting is an age-old technique for creating textiles, its properties have not yet been successfully modeled in silico, as have so many of our modern materials. Here, we would like to study the mechanics, folding, and response of knit materials using these principles of soft matter but, at the same time, use a general, geometric framework to develop a completely new approach to quantitatively model fabric. To do this requires a close collaboration between physicists, designers, engineers, and artisans to elaborate, corroborate, and integrate the tools, data, and theory into a predictive model of fabric response.

Award amount: $300,000

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