Computational Object-Wrapping Rope Nets

Wrapping objects using ropes is a common practice in our daily life. However, it is difficult to design and tie ropes on a 3D object with complex topology and geometry features while ensuring wrapping security and easy operation. In this article, we propose to compute a rope net that can tightly wrap around various 3D shapes. Our computed rope net not only immobilizes the object but also maintains the load balance during lifting. Based on the key observation that if every knot of the net has four adjacent curve edges, then only a single rope is needed to construct the entire net. We reformulate the rope net computation problem into a constrained curve network optimization. We propose a discrete-continuous optimization approach, where the topological constraints are satisfied in the discrete phase and the geometrical goals are achieved in the continuous stage. We also develop a hoist planning to pick anchor points so that the rope net equally distributes the load during hoisting. Furthermore, we simulate the wrapping process and use it to guide the physical rope net construction process. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on 3D objects with varying geometric and topological complexity. In addition, we conduct physical experiments to demonstrate the practicability of our method.

Bioinspired Self-Shaping Clay Composites for Sustainable Development

Bioinspired self-shaping is an approach used to transform flat materials into unusual three-dimensional (3D) shapes by tailoring the internal architecture of the flat material. Bioinspiration and bioinspired materials have a high potential for fostering sustainable development, yet are often fashioned out of expensive and synthetic materials. In this work, we use bioinspiration to endow clay with self-shaping properties upon drying. The composites created are based on clay and starch, and the internal architecture is built using celery fibers. The viscosity, shrinkage, and bending of the architected composite monolayers are studied for several compositions by measuring penetration depth and using optical characterization methods. Bilayer structures inspired from plants are then processed using a simple hand layup process to achieve bending, twisting, and combinations of those after drying. By layering a mixture of 32 vol% clay, 25.8 vol% starch, and 42.2 vol% water with 40 wt% embedded aligned celery fibers, it is possible to obtain the desired shape change. The work presented here aims at providing a simple method for teaching the concept of bioinspiration, and for creating new materials using only clay and plant-based ingredients. Rejuvenating clay with endowed self-shaping properties could further expand its use. Furthermore, the materials, methods, and principles presented here are affordable, simple, largely applicable, and could be used for sustainable development in the domain of education as well as materials and structures.

Predicting 3D shapes, masks, and properties of materials inside transparent containers, using the TransProteus CGI dataset

We present TransProteus, a dataset, and methods for predicting the 3D structure and properties of materials inside transparent vessels from a single image. Manipulating materials in containers is essential in...

Fabrication of Piezoelectric Electrospun Termite Nest-like 3D Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

A high piezoelectric coefficient polymer and biomaterial for bone tissue engineering— poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)—has been successfully fabricated into 3D scaffolds using the wet electrospinning method. Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have significant advantages for tissue engineering applications. Electrospinning is an advanced method and can fabricate 3D scaffolds. However, it has some limitations and is difficult to fabricate nanofibers into 3D shapes because of the low controllability of porosity and internal pore shape. The PVDF-HFP powders were dissolved in a mixture of acetone and dimethylformamide with a ratio of 1:1 at various concentrations of 10, 13, 15, 17, and 20 wt%. However, only the solutions at 15 and 17 wt% with optimized electrospinning parameters can be fabricated into biomimetic 3D shapes. The produced PVDF-HFP 3D scaffolds are in the cm size range and mimic the structure of the natural nests of termites of the genus Apicotermes. In addition, the 3D nanofiber-based structure can also generate more electrical signals than the conventional 2D ones, as the third dimension provides more compression. The cell interaction with the 3D nanofibers scaffold was investigated. The in vitro results demonstrated that the NIH 3T3 cells could attach and migrate in the 3D structures. While conventional electrospinning yields 2D (flat) structures, our bio-inspired electrospun termite nest-like 3D scaffolds are better suited for tissue engineering applications since they can potentially mimic native tissues as they have biomimetic structure, piezoelectric, and biological properties.

Bending of a ship's skin panel loaded along the axis of symmetry

Задача изгиба прямоугольной панели обшивки от действия распределенной по оси симметрии поперечной нагрузки не имеет точного решения в конечном виде в виду сложности краевых условий и вида нагрузки. Использование другими авторами различных приближенных методов оставляет открытым вопрос о точности полученных результатов. Целью исследования является получение точного решения с помощью гиперболо-тригонометрических рядов по двум координатам. Для этого используется метод бесконечной суперпозиции указанных рядов, которые в отдельности удовлетворят лишь части граничных условий. Порождаемые ими невязки взаимно компенсируются в ходе итерационного процесса и стремятся к нулю. Частное решения представлено двойным рядом Фурье. Точное решение достигается увеличением количества членов в рядах и числа итераций. При достижении заданной точности процесс прекращается. Получены численные результаты для прогибов и изгибающих моментов для квадратной пластины при различной длине загруженной части оси пластины. Представлены 3D-формы изогнутой поверхности пластины и эпюры изгибающих моментов. The problem of bending a rectangular skin panel from the action of a transverse load distributed along the axis of symmetry does not have an exact solution in the final form due to the complexity of the boundary conditions and the type of load. The use of various approximate methods by other authors leaves open the question of the accuracy of the results obtained. The aim of the study is to obtain an exact solution using hyperbolo-trigonometric series in two coordinates. To do this, we use the method of infinite superposition of these series, which individually satisfy only part of the boundary conditions. The residuals generated by them are mutually compensated during the iterative process and tend to zero. The quotient of the solution is represented by a double Fourier series. The exact solution is achieved by increasing the number of terms in the series and the number of iterations. When the specified accuracy is reached, the process stops. Numerical results are obtained for deflections and bending moments for a square plate with different lengths of the loaded part of the plate axis. 3D shapes of the curved surface of the plate and diagrams of bending moments are presented.

Light-Actuated Liquid Crystal Elastomer Prepared by Projection Display

Soft materials with programmability have been widely used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, artificial muscles, biosensors, and related biomedical engineering applications. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) can easily morph into three-dimensional (3D) shapes by external stimuli such as light, heat, and humidity. In order to program two-dimensional (2D) LCE sheets into desired 3D morphologies, it is critical to precisely control the molecular orientations in LCE. In this work, we propose a simple photopatterning method based on a maskless projection display system to create spatially varying molecular orientations in LCE films. By designing different synchronized rotations of the polarizer and projected images, diverse configurations ranging from individual to 2D lattice of topological defects are fabricated. The proposed technique significantly simplified the photopatterning procedure without using fabricated masks or waveplates. Shape transformations such as a cone and a truncated square pyramid, and functionality mimicking the responsive Mimosa Pudica are demonstrated in the fabricated LCE films. The programmable LCE morphing behaviors demonstrated in this work will open opportunities in soft robotics and smart functional devices.

3D Cell neighbour dynamics in growing pseudostratified epithelia

During morphogenesis, epithelial sheets remodel into complex geometries. How cells dynamically organize their contact with neighbouring cells in these tightly packed tissues is poorly understood. We have used light-sheet microscopy of growing mouse embryonic lung explants, three-dimensional cell segmentation, and physical theory to unravel the principles behind 3D cell organization in growing pseudostratified epithelia. We find that cells have highly irregular 3D shapes and exhibit numerous neighbour intercalations along the apical-basal axis as well as over time. Despite the fluidic nature, the cell packing configurations follow fundamental relationships previously described for apical epithelial layers, i.e., Euler's formula, Lewis' law, and Aboav-Weaire's law, at all times and across the entire tissue thickness. This arrangement minimizes the lateral cell-cell surface energy for a given cross-sectional area variability, generated primarily by the distribution and movement of nuclei. We conclude that the complex 3D cell organization in growing epithelia emerges from simple physical principles.