Additive manufacturing (AM) has been introduced since the late 1980s and although a considerable amount of progress, there is still a lot of research to be done in order to overcome the various manufacturing challenges. Recently, one of the actively researched areas lies in the additive manufacturing of smart materials and structures. Smart Materials (or Stimulus-Responsive Materials - SRM) are those materials that have the ability to change their shape and properties under the influence of an external stimulus (Temperature variation, light, humidity etc.). Taking advantages of these features, AM-fabricated components are able to alter their structure as a response to the applied stimuli from environment or through human interference. Hence, this gives rise to a new term called “4D Printing” to include the structural reconfiguration over time in AM processes. Despite being still in its infancy, this new field has attracted great interest since first conceptualization in 2013. 4D Printing is capable of achieving new ways of self-assembly, multi-functionality and self-repair, it can fabricate dynamic products with predictable adjustable shape, properties or functionalities. In this master thesis the major progresses of 4D Printing are reviewed in order to evaluate future directions of this new research field. After a brief overview of the state-of-the-art of 4D Printing technologies and smart materials, in the second chapter, principles, theoretical models and tools are presented, which are at the base of the design of 4D printed structures. Relevant benefits and limitations are discussed in the third chapter, considering manufacturing, materials features and design process. Moreover, some detailed case studies are analyzed in fourth chapter, while the final chapter is a general summary of the main challenges and outlooks with a overview of the future potential applications. According to the latest predictions, 4D Printing will take more than 10 years in its path to bring feasable results to mainstream reality.
La produzione additiva (Additive manufacturing - AM) è stata introdotta alla fine degli anni ottanta e sebbene siano stati compiuti notevoli progressi, sono ancora necessarie molte ricerche per superare le varie sfide produttive. Recentemente, una delle aree in cui si sta concentrando la ricerca è la produzione additiva di materiali e strutture intelligenti. I materiali intelligenti (Smart Materials or Stimulus-Responsive Materials - SRM) sono quei materiali che hanno la capacità di cambiare la loro forma e le loro proprietà sotto l’influenza di uno stimolo esterno (variazione di temperatura, luce, umidità ecc.). Traendo vantaggio da queste caratteristiche, i componenti fabbricati con le tecniche additive sono in grado di alterare la loro struttura, come risposta agli stimoli applicati dall’ambiente o da interferenze umane. Questo dà origine a un nuovo termine chiamato “Stampa 4D” (4D Printing - 4DP) per includere nella produzione additiva la riconfigurazione strutturale nel tempo. Nonostante sia ancora alla sua infanzia, questo nuovo campo ha suscitato grande interesse sin dalla sua prima concettualizzazione nel 2013. La Stampa 4D infatti è in grado di raggiungere nuovi modi di auto-assemblaggio, multi-funzionalità e riparazione automatica, può fabbricare prodotti dinamici con forma, proprietà o funzionalità regolabili. In questa tesi di laurea vengono esaminati i principali progressi della Stampa 4D per valutare le direzioni future di questo nuovo campo di ricerca. Dopo una breve panoramica dello stato dell’arte, delle tecnologie di Stampa 4D e dei materiali intelligenti; nel secondo capitolo sono presentati i principi, i modelli teorici e gli strumenti alla base della progettazione delle strutture 4D. I vantaggi e le limitazioni sono discussi nel terzo capitolo, considerando la produzione, le caratteristiche dei materiali e il processo di progettazione. Inoltre, alcuni casi studio sono presentati e analizzati nel quarto capitolo; mentre il capitolo finale è una sintesi delle principali sfide e prospettive, con una panoramica sulle potenziali applicazioni future. Secondo le ultime previsioni, la Stampa 4D impiegherà più di 10 anni nel suo percorso per portare risultati fattibili nella realtà mainstream.
4D printing : a radical shift in additive manufacturing
TOSONI, EDOARDO
2018/2019
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM) has been introduced since the late 1980s and although a considerable amount of progress, there is still a lot of research to be done in order to overcome the various manufacturing challenges. Recently, one of the actively researched areas lies in the additive manufacturing of smart materials and structures. Smart Materials (or Stimulus-Responsive Materials - SRM) are those materials that have the ability to change their shape and properties under the influence of an external stimulus (Temperature variation, light, humidity etc.). Taking advantages of these features, AM-fabricated components are able to alter their structure as a response to the applied stimuli from environment or through human interference. Hence, this gives rise to a new term called “4D Printing” to include the structural reconfiguration over time in AM processes. Despite being still in its infancy, this new field has attracted great interest since first conceptualization in 2013. 4D Printing is capable of achieving new ways of self-assembly, multi-functionality and self-repair, it can fabricate dynamic products with predictable adjustable shape, properties or functionalities. In this master thesis the major progresses of 4D Printing are reviewed in order to evaluate future directions of this new research field. After a brief overview of the state-of-the-art of 4D Printing technologies and smart materials, in the second chapter, principles, theoretical models and tools are presented, which are at the base of the design of 4D printed structures. Relevant benefits and limitations are discussed in the third chapter, considering manufacturing, materials features and design process. Moreover, some detailed case studies are analyzed in fourth chapter, while the final chapter is a general summary of the main challenges and outlooks with a overview of the future potential applications. According to the latest predictions, 4D Printing will take more than 10 years in its path to bring feasable results to mainstream reality.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/149312