What can we learn from crumpling a piece of paper? | Bas Overvelde | TEDxGroningen

so what have I just done

so what have I just done apparently I crumpled this piece of

apparently I crumpled this piece of

apparently I crumpled this piece of paper and tried to straighten it again

paper and tried to straighten it again

paper and tried to straighten it again but if you would ask the people in my

but if you would ask the people in my

but if you would ask the people in my research group they would say you’ve

research group they would say you’ve

research group they would say you’ve just changed the properties of this

just changed the properties of this

just changed the properties of this paper by giving it a structure now here

paper by giving it a structure now here

paper by giving it a structure now here are you thinking what a nerds but they

are you thinking what a nerds but they

are you thinking what a nerds but they are they are so right because if we

are they are so right because if we

are they are so right because if we compare this to the original piece of

compare this to the original piece of

compare this to the original piece of paper it actually bends under its own

paper it actually bends under its own

paper it actually bends under its own weight but you can already see here that

weight but you can already see here that

weight but you can already see here that this crumpled piece of paper destructed

this crumpled piece of paper destructed

this crumpled piece of paper destructed paper doesn’t now nature actually plays

paper doesn’t now nature actually plays

paper doesn’t now nature actually plays the same trick with structure and so in

the same trick with structure and so in

the same trick with structure and so in nature what we friend to see is a

nature what we friend to see is a

nature what we friend to see is a structure that material that’s called

structure that material that’s called

structure that material that’s called bamboo and this bamboo is made from

bamboo and this bamboo is made from

bamboo and this bamboo is made from cellulose the cellulose is arranged in

cellulose the cellulose is arranged in

cellulose the cellulose is arranged in fibers and if you look at the

fibers and if you look at the

fibers and if you look at the cross-section of bamboo you actually see

cross-section of bamboo you actually see

cross-section of bamboo you actually see a lot of small holes that are have the

a lot of small holes that are have the

a lot of small holes that are have the thickness of the size of a human hair

thickness of the size of a human hair

thickness of the size of a human hair and so this structure actually makes the

and so this structure actually makes the

and so this structure actually makes the bamboo light but also very stiff and

bamboo light but also very stiff and

bamboo light but also very stiff and that’s why it can grow high into the sky

that’s why it can grow high into the sky

that’s why it can grow high into the sky now in my research group we actually try

now in my research group we actually try

now in my research group we actually try to do the same things with materials and

to do the same things with materials and

to do the same things with materials and structure but now we try to make

structure but now we try to make

structure but now we try to make materials that have properties that

materials that have properties that

materials that have properties that don’t exist yet in nature now this is

don’t exist yet in nature now this is

don’t exist yet in nature now this is not an example of such material this is

not an example of such material this is

not an example of such material this is just a normal piece of rubber and if we

just a normal piece of rubber and if we

just a normal piece of rubber and if we compress this rubber we horizontally

compress this rubber we horizontally

compress this rubber we horizontally compress it you actually see that the

compress it you actually see that the

compress it you actually see that the walls are expanding outside and this is

walls are expanding outside and this is

walls are expanding outside and this is typical typical typical for most of the

typical typical typical for most of the

typical typical typical for most of the materials we have in nature where we can

materials we have in nature where we can

materials we have in nature where we can play a trick here with structure and we

play a trick here with structure and we

play a trick here with structure and we remove half of the material by just

remove half of the material by just

remove half of the material by just making simple holes and now when we

making simple holes and now when we

making simple holes and now when we compress it something interesting

compress it something interesting

compress it something interesting happens

happens

happens so at some point you suddenly see a

so at some point you suddenly see a

so at some point you suddenly see a pattern transformation and you can see

pattern transformation and you can see

pattern transformation and you can see now that the walls are going inward now

now that the walls are going inward now

now that the walls are going inward now we can take this this piece of material

we can take this this piece of material

we can take this this piece of material this is very this is this piece of

this is very this is this piece of

this is very this is this piece of rubber is still very big but now imagine

rubber is still very big but now imagine

rubber is still very big but now imagine that we make this at the same size of

that we make this at the same size of

that we make this at the same size of what we see in the bamboo then we really

what we see in the bamboo then we really

what we see in the bamboo then we really start to create new materials by

start to create new materials by

start to create new materials by designing their microstructure now an

designing their microstructure now an

designing their microstructure now an important question here is how actually

important question here is how actually

important question here is how actually do you design these materials where do

do you design these materials where do

do you design these materials where do you start what do you want to make and

you start what do you want to make and

you start what do you want to make and we’re really trying to explore the space

we’re really trying to explore the space

we’re really trying to explore the space of possibilities so here we use circular

of possibilities so here we use circular

of possibilities so here we use circular holes but what if you use triangular or

holes but what if you use triangular or

holes but what if you use triangular or square holes and what about the pattern

square holes and what about the pattern

square holes and what about the pattern you apply them in and maybe you can even

you apply them in and maybe you can even

you apply them in and maybe you can even think about three dimensions so the

think about three dimensions so the

think about three dimensions so the question here is where actually do we

question here is where actually do we

question here is where actually do we start this research and how where do we

start this research and how where do we

start this research and how where do we start to think about this now actually

start to think about this now actually

start to think about this now actually origami is a big inspiration for us

origami is a big inspiration for us

origami is a big inspiration for us because origami artists have played with

because origami artists have played with

because origami artists have played with structure already for centuries so what

structure already for centuries so what

structure already for centuries so what you see here are a few geometries that

you see here are a few geometries that

you see here are a few geometries that were made by taking pieces of paper

were made by taking pieces of paper

were made by taking pieces of paper ribbon folding it at certain locations

ribbon folding it at certain locations

ribbon folding it at certain locations and actually assembling it together they

and actually assembling it together they

and actually assembling it together they snap together and this technique is

snap together and this technique is

snap together and this technique is called the apology in origami but

called the apology in origami but

called the apology in origami but something happens when you start playing

something happens when you start playing

something happens when you start playing with them when you start to feel them

with them when you start to feel them

with them when you start to feel them and if you look at the orange model you

and if you look at the orange model you

and if you look at the orange model you actually see that this piece is very

actually see that this piece is very

actually see that this piece is very stiff but if you look at the blue model

stiff but if you look at the blue model

stiff but if you look at the blue model here it’s very flexible and this just

here it’s very flexible and this just

here it’s very flexible and this just comes out of the fact that we arrange

comes out of the fact that we arrange

comes out of the fact that we arrange the paper strips in a slightly different

the paper strips in a slightly different

the paper strips in a slightly different way now what I mentioned we play with

way now what I mentioned we play with

way now what I mentioned we play with this and this is actually a essential

this and this is actually a essential

this and this is actually a essential part in our research group we actually

part in our research group we actually

part in our research group we actually want to build things like these origami

want to build things like these origami

want to build things like these origami models and we want to get a feeling for

models and we want to get a feeling for

models and we want to get a feeling for them play with them to really understand

them play with them to really understand

them play with them to really understand how they behave and so when someone’s

how they behave and so when someone’s

how they behave and so when someone’s coming to my group for an interview for

coming to my group for an interview for

coming to my group for an interview for a position I always find arts and crafts

a position I always find arts and crafts

a position I always find arts and crafts skills very important so of course we

skills very important so of course we

skills very important so of course we have these paper models we have these

have these paper models we have these

have these paper models we have these building blocks and now the next step

building blocks and now the next step

building blocks and now the next step for us is to try to understand how they

for us is to try to understand how they

for us is to try to understand how they behave in how we can make them

behave in how we can make them

behave in how we can make them so here we start actually for

so here we start actually for

so here we start actually for mathematical objects called polyhedra

mathematical objects called polyhedra

mathematical objects called polyhedra and we can do a trick there where we

and we can do a trick there where we

and we can do a trick there where we start extruding the faces and so through

start extruding the faces and so through

start extruding the faces and so through this technique we can make these thin

this technique we can make these thin

this technique we can make these thin walled structures and so we have now a

walled structures and so we have now a

walled structures and so we have now a few building blocks and a big question

few building blocks and a big question

few building blocks and a big question now is how are we going to assemble

now is how are we going to assemble

now is how are we going to assemble these building blocks together how are

these building blocks together how are

these building blocks together how are we going to use these building blocks to

we going to use these building blocks to

we going to use these building blocks to create a new type of material a new type

create a new type of material a new type

create a new type of material a new type of structured material all right so with

of structured material all right so with

of structured material all right so with a bit of math I’m gonna skip this slide

a bit of math I’m gonna skip this slide

a bit of math I’m gonna skip this slide quickly all right we determine we can

quickly all right we determine we can

quickly all right we determine we can write a computer simulation and we

write a computer simulation and we

write a computer simulation and we determine how we can put this protégés

determine how we can put this protégés

determine how we can put this protégés together and we then take the next the

together and we then take the next the

together and we then take the next the same step as before we pull this

same step as before we pull this

same step as before we pull this polyhedra apart and we actually extrude

polyhedra apart and we actually extrude

polyhedra apart and we actually extrude their faces to create a new type of

their faces to create a new type of

their faces to create a new type of structure for this material so you can

structure for this material so you can

structure for this material so you can imagine now that this is one combination

imagine now that this is one combination

imagine now that this is one combination of polyhedra that lead to a structured

of polyhedra that lead to a structured

of polyhedra that lead to a structured material but there are many more

material but there are many more

material but there are many more combinations that we can make this way

combinations that we can make this way

combinations that we can make this way and our computer simulation

and our computer simulation

and our computer simulation actually does the trick for us now of

actually does the trick for us now of

actually does the trick for us now of course everything is nice when you can

course everything is nice when you can

course everything is nice when you can make a computer simulation but we also

make a computer simulation but we also

make a computer simulation but we also again want to experience this play this

again want to experience this play this

again want to experience this play this is this experiments it’s feeling so do

is this experiments it’s feeling so do

is this experiments it’s feeling so do the materials behave the way they were

the materials behave the way they were

the materials behave the way they were supposed to when we actually make them

supposed to when we actually make them

supposed to when we actually make them in experiments and we use simple tricks

in experiments and we use simple tricks

in experiments and we use simple tricks here like cardboard and double-sided

here like cardboard and double-sided

here like cardboard and double-sided tape to actually make the structures and

tape to actually make the structures and

tape to actually make the structures and so here we wanted to make a material

so here we wanted to make a material

so here we wanted to make a material that’s actually flexible like the blue

that’s actually flexible like the blue

that’s actually flexible like the blue cube I showed you before and so now we

cube I showed you before and so now we

cube I showed you before and so now we can actually deform this material and

can actually deform this material and

can actually deform this material and there’s actually exactly one way we can

there’s actually exactly one way we can

there’s actually exactly one way we can change the structure of this of this

change the structure of this of this

change the structure of this of this material and as I mentioned we now have

material and as I mentioned we now have

material and as I mentioned we now have a computer simulation so it pops out a

a computer simulation so it pops out a

a computer simulation so it pops out a lot of different combinations like this

lot of different combinations like this

lot of different combinations like this one which is similar to before it can

one which is similar to before it can

one which is similar to before it can fold in one way but actually much more

fold in one way but actually much more

fold in one way but actually much more compact under than the previous one all

compact under than the previous one all

compact under than the previous one all right well maybe now actually we can go

right well maybe now actually we can go

right well maybe now actually we can go to this sample you see over here and I

to this sample you see over here and I

to this sample you see over here and I want to do a small experiment with you a

want to do a small experiment with you a

want to do a small experiment with you a very intelligent intelligent experiment

very intelligent intelligent experiment

very intelligent intelligent experiment and so this structure is interesting

and so this structure is interesting

and so this structure is interesting because it can it can exhibit actually

because it can it can exhibit actually

because it can it can exhibit actually fold in a few different

fold in a few different

fold in a few different ways and so I’m gonna walk here upstage

ways and so I’m gonna walk here upstage

ways and so I’m gonna walk here upstage and actually this material can fold

and actually this material can fold

and actually this material can fold completely flat so we combine a few of

completely flat so we combine a few of

completely flat so we combine a few of these flexibility so it can fold

these flexibility so it can fold

these flexibility so it can fold completely flat right and reduces in

completely flat right and reduces in

completely flat right and reduces in volume 100 time and I went in it’s flat

volume 100 time and I went in it’s flat

volume 100 time and I went in it’s flat set is actually very strong so actually

set is actually very strong so actually

set is actually very strong so actually maybe you already guess what I’m going

maybe you already guess what I’m going

maybe you already guess what I’m going to do we can just stand on it right and

to do we can just stand on it right and

to do we can just stand on it right and now importantly someone worked a student

now importantly someone worked a student

now importantly someone worked a student worked three weeks to make this sample

worked three weeks to make this sample

worked three weeks to make this sample so all right and now it just pops back

so all right and now it just pops back

so all right and now it just pops back to its original state

to its original state

to its original state right so this structure actually

right so this structure actually

right so this structure actually represents a new type of material that

represents a new type of material that

represents a new type of material that can fold and go completely flat and

can fold and go completely flat and

can fold and go completely flat and change its volume a hundred of a hundred

change its volume a hundred of a hundred

change its volume a hundred of a hundred times a hundredfold and so maybe already

times a hundredfold and so maybe already

times a hundredfold and so maybe already get some ideas about possible

get some ideas about possible

get some ideas about possible applications where we can apply these

applications where we can apply these

applications where we can apply these these materials and I also have a few

these materials and I also have a few

these materials and I also have a few ideas and so for example if we take this

ideas and so for example if we take this

ideas and so for example if we take this material and shape it into a tube this

material and shape it into a tube this

material and shape it into a tube this tube can fold completely flat as we

tube can fold completely flat as we

tube can fold completely flat as we could maybe use this as a stent which is

could maybe use this as a stent which is

could maybe use this as a stent which is already a device used in the medical

already a device used in the medical

already a device used in the medical device that it can actually be brought

device that it can actually be brought

device that it can actually be brought into our arteries and wherever we want

into our arteries and wherever we want

into our arteries and wherever we want to improve our blood flow we can

to improve our blood flow we can

to improve our blood flow we can actually expand this stent so maybe we

actually expand this stent so maybe we

actually expand this stent so maybe we can use this with this material for that

can use this with this material for that

can use this with this material for that on a slightly larger scale we might be

on a slightly larger scale we might be

on a slightly larger scale we might be able to make completely deformable

able to make completely deformable

able to make completely deformable furniture right so hopefully we can

furniture right so hopefully we can

furniture right so hopefully we can finally make chairs that no longer break

finally make chairs that no longer break

finally make chairs that no longer break this foldable chairs but we can even go

this foldable chairs but we can even go

this foldable chairs but we can even go bigger we can even think about the

bigger we can even think about the

bigger we can even think about the architecture scale so here you see an

architecture scale so here you see an

architecture scale so here you see an exhibit where I collaborated with an

exhibit where I collaborated with an

exhibit where I collaborated with an architect Chuck Hoberman to see how big

architect Chuck Hoberman to see how big

architect Chuck Hoberman to see how big we can make these structures and these

we can make these structures and these

we can make these structures and these are actually four meters high and you

are actually four meters high and you

are actually four meters high and you can still deform them by hand and maybe

can still deform them by hand and maybe

can still deform them by hand and maybe here you see the possibility of starting

here you see the possibility of starting

here you see the possibility of starting to make deployable houses for disaster

to make deployable houses for disaster

to make deployable houses for disaster relief or maybe having structures that

relief or maybe having structures that

relief or maybe having structures that we can bring into space with us because

we can bring into space with us because

we can bring into space with us because they can collapse completely and so I

they can collapse completely and so I

they can collapse completely and so I talked a lot about materials but all you

talked a lot about materials but all you

talked a lot about materials but all you see here is

see here is

see here is basically a prototype of something that

basically a prototype of something that

basically a prototype of something that could become eventually a material we

could become eventually a material we

could become eventually a material we really work on the design aspect we try

really work on the design aspect we try

really work on the design aspect we try to understand how we can design it and

to understand how we can design it and

to understand how we can design it and how we can make new materials but one

how we can make new materials but one

how we can make new materials but one thing we recently started recently

thing we recently started recently

thing we recently started recently started is to explore how we can

started is to explore how we can

started is to explore how we can actually build these samples on a much

actually build these samples on a much

actually build these samples on a much smaller scale so here we actually use a

smaller scale so here we actually use a

smaller scale so here we actually use a 3d printing technique where we at the at

3d printing technique where we at the at

3d printing technique where we at the at the micro scale where we were able to

the micro scale where we were able to

the micro scale where we were able to create these structures and this is this

create these structures and this is this

create these structures and this is this result is just a month old and so just

result is just a month old and so just

result is just a month old and so just for for an idea about scale on the right

for for an idea about scale on the right

for for an idea about scale on the right you see the thickness of a human hair so

you see the thickness of a human hair so

you see the thickness of a human hair so really by using these 3d printing

really by using these 3d printing

really by using these 3d printing techniques you can go much smaller

techniques you can go much smaller

techniques you can go much smaller another thing we’re working on is

another thing we’re working on is

another thing we’re working on is actually trying to make these materials

actually trying to make these materials

actually trying to make these materials smarter so here you see a structure that

smarter so here you see a structure that

smarter so here you see a structure that can be controlled not by our hands but

can be controlled not by our hands but

can be controlled not by our hands but actually by embedding balloons that we

actually by embedding balloons that we

actually by embedding balloons that we can inflate from a distance and so we

can inflate from a distance and so we

can inflate from a distance and so we can apply the same technique as before

can apply the same technique as before

can apply the same technique as before so we can apply this parametric drive

so we can apply this parametric drive

so we can apply this parametric drive also to these larger structures so to

also to these larger structures so to

also to these larger structures so to let’s say we can apply this to the

let’s say we can apply this to the

let’s say we can apply this to the structured material and really create

structured material and really create

structured material and really create materials that can autonomously adapt to

materials that can autonomously adapt to

materials that can autonomously adapt to their environment or at least that’s

their environment or at least that’s

their environment or at least that’s what we strive to do and so imagine a

what we strive to do and so imagine a

what we strive to do and so imagine a house where the walls will start to open

house where the walls will start to open

house where the walls will start to open up on a hot day to let in cool air or

up on a hot day to let in cool air or

up on a hot day to let in cool air or maybe a roof that closes when it starts

maybe a roof that closes when it starts

maybe a roof that closes when it starts to rain or maybe we can even think about

to rain or maybe we can even think about

to rain or maybe we can even think about our own muscles and so replace these

our own muscles and so replace these

our own muscles and so replace these sort of smart material so replace our

sort of smart material so replace our

sort of smart material so replace our muscles with these smart materials or

muscles with these smart materials or

muscles with these smart materials or maybe even a complete heart maybe we can

maybe even a complete heart maybe we can

maybe even a complete heart maybe we can make a completely artificial heart and

so through play and through experiments

so through play and through experiments my group will continue building the

my group will continue building the

my group will continue building the materials of the future so I invite you

materials of the future so I invite you

materials of the future so I invite you all to keep on playing

all to keep on playing

all to keep on playing [Applause]