Aperture size control in kirigami metamaterials: Towards enhanced performance and applications

Kirigami metamaterials, inspired by the ancient art of kirigami, have recently emerged as an innovative approach for creating metamaterials with a diverse range of properties. While many studies on 2D kirigami have focused on stretchability and multi-stable properties, the variation in aperture size throughout the unfolding process of kirigami is another significant geometric feature. In this study, two novel kirigami materials are introduced, based on the topological construction of traditional triangular kirigami designs. These novel kirigami materials exhibit a wide range of aperture sizes, offering significant flexibility and tunability in stretch ratio. The diverse range of aperture sizes presents numerous potential applications at both micro and macro scales. Additionally, a hollow technique is proposed for designing kirigami cellular structures, which undergo distinct stages during the compression process characterized by low-reaction response and high-reaction response. This research expands the design possibilities of kirigami metamaterials by enabling precise adjustments in aperture sizes.