Projects

Auxetic Material Structure for SMAPP and SOFT ROBOTS


Research Mentor

Office: 570A Engineering North

Phone: 405-744-3033

Email: chulho.yang@okstate.edu

Research Problem and Objectives

Blunt impacts on the human body, such as falls, falling objects, and blast waves, impair body parts, increase the possibility of early death, and incur extremely high medical costs. Auxetic materials provide a unique solution for body protection pads because they reduce impact force and prevent injuries in high-risk individuals, such as firefighters, warfighters, and construction workers. When the impact force hits an auxetic material on one side of the structure, it dissipates the shock energy in transverse directions. Therefore, the other side of the structure experiences lower peak stress than the input side. In addition, the loads are distributed over a large surface area rather than concentrated in the region where the impact force was directly applied. 

Soft robotics is an innovative field that emphasizes the design and creation of robots made from highly flexible materials. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots are designed to mimic the natural flexibility and dexterity of the human body, allowing for more adaptive and gentle interactions with objects and environments. These robots are typically made from materials like silicone rubbers or elastomers, which give them the ability to bend, stretch, and conform to various shapes. This characteristic makes soft robots especially useful in delicate tasks such as handling fragile items, performing surgeries, or interacting safely with humans in collaborative environments. Their design often incorporates advanced technologies like pneumatic or hydraulic actuation, as well as sophisticated sensors, to provide precise control and tactile feedback, opening new possibilities in robotics, healthcare, and human-robot interaction. 

A successful design of protective pads and soft robots requires a proper selection of both material and structure. The REU site students will be involved in this area to create auxetic material shapes, optimize the structures, and perform simulations, tests, and analyses for the body protection pads and soft robots. 

Student Research Activities

Design, test, and analysis of auxetic materials for protection pads and soft robots


In this project, the UG students will research the following fundamental questions: 1) can the individual and/or combined effect of auxetic structures and shear-thickening materials affect the overall stiffness and shock-absorption performance of the protection pads? 2) what level of shock absorption capabilities can be achieved by different materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA), thermoplastic polyurethane, and polyethylene? and 3) can the developed auxetic structures be embedded into soft robots as sensors and/or actuators to provide feedback on touch, pressure, and deformation, then exert necessary forces to drive the motion of robots?

The REU students will be involved in

The expected outcomes of the project are 1) the optimal combination of structure and material to obtain unique structural properties, such as stiffness, Poisson's ratio, and efficiency in shock absorption, and 2) the ideal sensing and actuation mechanism for the development of soft robots.





Application of auxetic materal for SMAPP and soft robotics.

Auxetic material structure

Required qualifications and skills