DATE:

Friday, December 11, 2020

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

Virtual Zoom Conference

SPEAKER:

Dr. Edwin A. Peraza Hernandez, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC Irvine

ABSTRACT:

This talk will present an overview of the application of origami and tensegrity principles in the creation of novel smart structures and manufacturing approaches from the small to the large scales. Origami is the well-known craft of folding paper into complex shapes, while tensegrity is a term given to sculptures formed by a set of objects self-equilibrated by a network of cables in tension. This talk will show how theories for the mechanics and design of origami are applied to the synthesis of “stackable” deployable structures and “pop-up” deployable structures with applications in aerospace systems. It will be also shown how origami principles are utilized in the manufacturing of metal structures folded by a laser beam, and in the microfabrication of freeform polymer and carbon constructions with applications in substance encapsulation and MEMS. Finally, the mechanics and design principles of tensegrity structures will be employed in the synthesis of lightweight payload carriers for applications in unmanned air deliveries, and of aerodynamically efficient morphing wings that do not require control surfaces such as ailerons and flaps to change their shape and adapt to different flight conditions.

Bio:
Edwin A. Peraza Hernandez is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. He received his Ph.D. and B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2016 and 2012, respectively. Hernandez is the author of one book on the mechanics and design of origami structures actuated by smart materials. He has published about 60 journal and conferences papers in the areas of origami structures, tensegrity systems, and shape memory alloys. His publications have received three best paper awards. Hernandez’s research is currently focused on topics such as manufacturing enabled by origami principles, where he applies paper folding theories to timely topics such as metal forming and carbon microfabrication. He is also contributing to the design of deployable aerospace structures, smart building skins, lightweight payload carriers for air deliveries, and morphing wings.

HOST:

Satchi Venkataraman

VIDEO: