#stuctures

Scarthingwell Catholic Church, North Yokshire, England.

A group of researchers at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, have added an additional dimension to 3D printing. They have created moveable and shape variable 4D objects that can be folded into 3D shapes or can change shape as a reaction to external influences such as temperature. The team also developed a construction principle that allows them to control the objects deformation. Each structure is designed to change configuration in a certain way, and are able to support weight, making them the first load-bearing 4D objects.

Credit: ETH Zurich / Tian Chen

The objects are made on the structural principle that depends on two states, retracted or extended. Combining these states allows for the creation of more complex structures, and gives them the ability to form several stable forms. A multi-material 3D printer, using a rigid polymer and an elastic polymer, printed the structures.

The space saving potential of these structures makes them a candidate for aerospace applications. The researchers are also considering their use in ventilation systems and medicine.