Origami simulation has been my main research focus for the past few years. In this research thrust, I have written a thorough review paper to systematically summarize different origami simulation techniques. In addition to the review paper, I have developed several simulation models to capture the mechanical and multi-physical behaviors in functional origami systems. Based on these works, I have also developed an open-access simulation package to implement the simulation frameworks to capture the multi-physical behaviors in active origami.
Developing the proper simulation technique is the first step to understand the behaviors of origami systems. For the first time, this review paper systematically summarizes different simulation techniques for origami systems. The work can help researchers to better appreciate the underlying formulations of different simulations so that they can better select and develop the proper simulation needed for their specific project. See Reference [6]
Compliant crease origami
Traditional origami simulation models represent creases using simplified 1D rotational hinges. However, this simplification cannot capture the mechanical and multi-physical behaviors of active origami systems with compliant creases accurately. Thus, this work introduces a compliant crease bar and hinge model to represent active origami systems. See Reference [3]
Panel Contact
Prior to this work, simplified simulations of origami systems have difficulties capturing the potential panel contact within origami assemblages. This work resolves the challenge by introducing a barrier function based contact potential into the total potential of origami systems. This model provides a computationally efficient solution to capture panel contact related behaviors within origami. See Reference [2]
Electro-thermal Actuation Model
Capturing the behaviors of electro-thermally actuated origami systems has been difficult because limited simulation techniques are available. This work introduces a rapid simulation model to capture the electro-thermo-mechanically coupled motions within active origami systems. See Reference [4]
The SWOMPS program is a simulator built for solving active origami systems with complex multi-physics behaviors. The package can capture the large deformation folding, the heat transfer, the inter-panel contact, and the thermal-mechanically coupled actuation of active origami systems. The program provides seven different loading methods and allows users to create loading schemes with arbitrary number and sequence of these loading conditions. The users can also stop the solver at specified steps to switch to different methods and proceed the analysis. This implementation is highly versatile, and we even simulate the LOGO of the package using the software program itself (see above GIF).
Find the Package on GitHub:
Yi Zhu, Evgueni T. Filipov, Simulating Compliant Crease Origami with a Bar and Hinge Model, ASME 2019 IDETC/CIE, DETC2019-97106. Aug 18-21, Anaheim, CA, USA. (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2019-97119 )
Yi Zhu, Evgueni T. Filipov. 2019. An Efficient Numerical Approach for Modeling Contact in Origami Assemblages. Royal Society Proceedings A. 475: 2230. (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2019.0366)
Yi Zhu, Evgueni T. Filipov. 2020. A Bar and Hinge Model for Simulating Bistability in Origami Structures with Compliant Creases. Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics. 12(2): 021110 (10 pages) (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4045955)
Yi Zhu, Evgueni T. Filipov, 2021, Rapid Multi-Physics Simulation for Electro-Thermal Origami Systems, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 202-203, 106537. (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2021.106537)
Yi Zhu, Evgueni T. Filipov, 2021, Multi-Physics Origami Simulator: A Versatile MATLAB Implementation, 2021 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, DETC2021-68042. August 17th –19th , Virtual Online. (doi: https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2019-97119)
Yi Zhu, Mark Schenk, Evgueni T. Filipov, 2022, A Review on Origami Simulation Methods: From Kinematic, To Mechanics, and Towards Multi-Physics. Applied Mechanics Review, (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4055031)