Phase transforming cellular materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415475-B2
Application number	US-202017599154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

A phase transformational cellular material, including a plurality of bistable cells, each respective bistable cell operationally connected to at least one other respective bistable cell. Each bistable cell enjoys a first stable phase and a second stable phase. The first stable phase is a first geometric configuration and the second stable phase is a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration. An energy transaction is required to shift each respective cell between stable phases. A mechanical energy transaction is required to shift from the first to the second phase, while a thermal energy transaction is required to shift from the second to the first phase.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bistable multicellular body, comprising:
a first phase transforming cell; and
a second phase transforming cell operationally connected to the first phase transforming cell;
wherein each phase transforming cell includes a rigid portion and a flexible portion having a lower stiffness than the rigid portion;
wherein each respective phase transforming cell is configurable to a first phase defined as a first stable geometry;
wherein each respective phase transforming cell is configurable to a second phase defined as a second, different, stable geometry;
wherein a forward phase transformation from the first phase to the second phase occurs in response to a temperature change.

2. The multicellular body of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion is a pair of parallel rigid walls and the flexible portion is a pair of parallel, curved beams extending between the pair of rigid walls.

3. The multicellular body of claim 2 and further comprising a rigid support wall extending between each pair of parallel curved beams.

4. The multicellular body of claim 1 wherein a reverse phase transformation from the second phase to the first phase occurs in response to a thermal stimulus.

5. The multicellular body of claim 4 wherein the thermal stimulus is an increase of thermal energy in the body.

6. The multicellular body of claim 4 wherein the body is bistable at a first lower temperature and metastable at a second, higher temperature.

7. The multicellular body of claim 1 wherein the multicellular body further comprises a plurality of phase transforming cells configured as a vehicle tire.

8. The multicellular body of claim 1 wherein the multicellular body further comprises a plurality of phase transforming cells configured as an earthquake-resistant building member.

9. The multicellular body of claim 1 and further comprising:
a plurality of phase transforming cells operationally connected to define a hexagonal pattern; and
a plurality of cylindrical shell ligaments, each respective ligament operationally connected to two phase transforming cells;
wherein each respective phase transforming cell exhibits hexagonal symmetry; and
wherein each respective phase transforming cell connects to six respective cylindrical shell ligaments.

10. The multicellular body of claim 1 wherein each respective phase transforming cell is characterized by two regimes displaying positive stiffness and one regime displaying negative stiffness.

11. A phase transformational cellular material, comprising:
a plurality of bistable cells, each respective bistable cell operationally connected to at least one other respective bistable cell;
wherein the plurality of bistable cells is piezoresponsive;
wherein each bistable cell enjoys a first stable phase and a second stable phase;
wherein the first stable phase is a first geometric configuration;
wherein the second stable phase is a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration;
wherein a thermal energy transaction is required to shift each respective cell between the second stable phases and the first stable phase.

12. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bistable cells is configured into an automobile tire.

13. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 12 , and further comprising a rubber shell encapsulating the plurality of bistable cells.

14. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of bistable cells have a square 2D cross-sectional shape.

15. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bistable cells enjoys alternating regions of marked wave propagation and wave attenuation; and
wherein wave propagation through the plurality of bistable cells has favored directionality.

16. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bistable cells are hydrophobic when in the first stable phase; and wherein the plurality of bistable cells are hydrophobic when in the second stable phase.

17. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 , wherein a mechanical force is required to shift the plurality of bistable cells from the first stable phase to the second stable phase.

18. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 wherein the plurality of bistable cells are configured as an earthquake-resistant structural member.

19. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 11 wherein a thermal energy transaction is required to shift from the first to the second phase.

20. A phase transformational cellular material, comprising:
a plurality of bistable cells, each respective bistable cell operationally connected to at least one other respective bistable cell;
wherein each bistable cell enjoys a first stable phase and a second stable phase;
wherein the first stable phase is a first geometric configuration;
wherein the second stable phase is a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration;
wherein a thermal energy transaction is required to shift each respective cell between the second stable phases and the first stable phase;
wherein the plurality of bistable cells are operationally connected to define a hexagonal pattern;
wherein each respective bistable cell enjoys a hexagonal symmetry;
wherein the phase transformational cellular material further comprises a plurality of cylindrical shell ligaments, each respective ligament operationally connected to two bistable cells; and
wherein each respective bistable cell connects to six respective cylindrical shell ligaments.

21. The phase transformational cellular material of claim 20 wherein each respective bistable cell is characterized by two regimes displaying positive stiffness and one regime displaying negative stiffness.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation
• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Zavattieri Pablo
• Zhang Yunlan
• Mankame Nilesh
• Restrepo David
• Jarrold Gordon
• Velay-Lizancos Maria Milian

Classifications

• C22F1/006

  Resulting in heat recoverable alloys with a memory effect · CPC title

• B60C7/14

  using springs · CPC title

• F03G7/06115

  using materials changing their chemical composition · CPC title

• E04H9/0237

  Structural braces with damping devices · CPC title

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title