Gradient design and fabrication methodology for interleaved self-locking kirigami panels

Abstract

Sandwich panels with excellent mechanical properties are widely used in the aerospace, architecture, and automobile industries. Kirigami-inspired structural designs are receiving increasing attention owing to the shape-induced functions and novel properties imparted by their folds and cuts. In this study, novel graded self-locking kirigami panels based on a tucked-interleaved pattern are developed and analyzed under quasi-static loading. The proposed tucked-interleaved pattern can be assembled to form freely supported self-locking polyhedral structures. The self-locking property is ensured by the interleaved flaps, which create in-plane compression to hold the structure in place. In particular, we analyze the effects of geometric variations in kirigami panels fabricated using a CO₂ laser machining system. The experimental data under quasi-static compression and simulation results both indicate that the proposed kirigami panels have outstanding load-to-weight ratios on the order of 10⁵. It appears that the introduction of a graded design can generate graded stiffness as well as superior specific energy absorption with an appropriate introduction of geometric gradients. These results show that the proposed kirigami panels combining self-locking and programmable non-uniform stiffness have great potential for non-uniform engineering applications.