Issue 22, 2010

The mechanics of non-Euclidean plates

Abstract

Non-Euclidean plates are plates (“stacks” of identical surfaces) whose two-dimensional intrinsic geometry is not Euclidean, i.e. cannot be realized in a flat configuration. They can be generated via different mechanisms, such as plastic deformation, natural growth or differential swelling. In recent years there has been a concurrent theoretical and experimental progress in describing and fabricating non-Euclidean plates (NEP). In particular, an effective plate theory was derived and experimental methods for a controlled fabrication of responsive NEP were developed. In this paper we review theoretical and experimental works that focus on shape selection in NEP and provide an overview of this new field. We made an effort to focus on the governing principles, rather than on details and to relate the main observations to known mechanical behavior of ordinary plates. We also point out to open questions in the field and to its applicative potential.

Graphical abstract: The mechanics of non-Euclidean plates

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
06 Jun 2010
Accepted
13 Jul 2010
First published
19 Oct 2010

Soft Matter, 2010,6, 5693-5704

The mechanics of non-Euclidean plates

E. Sharon and E. Efrati, Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 5693 DOI: 10.1039/C0SM00479K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements