Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups

Abstract Multistability is the phenomenon by which a material changes shape quickly between multiple stable states upon the application of an external trigger. Typically, fibre-reinforced composites assembled into laminates with [± 45°] or [0°/90°] layup exhibit bistability. These materials have com...

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Main Authors: Padmapooja Jambulingam, Dan Wang, Hortense Le Ferrand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97914-3
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author Padmapooja Jambulingam
Dan Wang
Hortense Le Ferrand
author_facet Padmapooja Jambulingam
Dan Wang
Hortense Le Ferrand
author_sort Padmapooja Jambulingam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Multistability is the phenomenon by which a material changes shape quickly between multiple stable states upon the application of an external trigger. Typically, fibre-reinforced composites assembled into laminates with [± 45°] or [0°/90°] layup exhibit bistability. These materials have commonly rectangular geometries, restricting their integration into more complex systems such as soft robotic actuators or biomimetic devices. One approach to increase the number of stable states is to locally vary the fibre orientation while tailoring the geometry of the bilayer laminate. This strategy is explored here using flower-shaped laminates as proof-of-concept. The dimensions of the flower’s petals as well as the local fibres’ orientations are varied using local and global coordinates systems. The morphing and the number of stable states are studied using the Finite Element Method (FEM) under various mechanical loading methods. The results demonstrate that multistability can be obtained by varying the geometry and the local fibre orientations. Generally, larger width-to-length ratios for the petals are also better for generating stable states. The simulated results are compared and discussed and could be used as a benchmark for exploring such systems in experiments or for designing even more complex multistable structures to meet the needs of soft robotics or other applications.
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spelling doaj-art-e1abc2c8dcc343579632b19be89f2e732025-08-20T02:19:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-97914-3Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layupsPadmapooja Jambulingam0Dan Wang1Hortense Le Ferrand2School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological UniversityInstitute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological UniversityAbstract Multistability is the phenomenon by which a material changes shape quickly between multiple stable states upon the application of an external trigger. Typically, fibre-reinforced composites assembled into laminates with [± 45°] or [0°/90°] layup exhibit bistability. These materials have commonly rectangular geometries, restricting their integration into more complex systems such as soft robotic actuators or biomimetic devices. One approach to increase the number of stable states is to locally vary the fibre orientation while tailoring the geometry of the bilayer laminate. This strategy is explored here using flower-shaped laminates as proof-of-concept. The dimensions of the flower’s petals as well as the local fibres’ orientations are varied using local and global coordinates systems. The morphing and the number of stable states are studied using the Finite Element Method (FEM) under various mechanical loading methods. The results demonstrate that multistability can be obtained by varying the geometry and the local fibre orientations. Generally, larger width-to-length ratios for the petals are also better for generating stable states. The simulated results are compared and discussed and could be used as a benchmark for exploring such systems in experiments or for designing even more complex multistable structures to meet the needs of soft robotics or other applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97914-3MorphingMultistabilityFinite element modellingLaminates
spellingShingle Padmapooja Jambulingam
Dan Wang
Hortense Le Ferrand
Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
Scientific Reports
Morphing
Multistability
Finite element modelling
Laminates
title Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
title_full Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
title_fullStr Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
title_full_unstemmed Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
title_short Numerical simulation of multistable flower-shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
title_sort numerical simulation of multistable flower shaped composite laminates with axisymmetric layups
topic Morphing
Multistability
Finite element modelling
Laminates
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97914-3
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AT hortenseleferrand numericalsimulationofmultistableflowershapedcompositelaminateswithaxisymmetriclayups