Journal of Bionic Engineering (2023) 20:495–505https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-022-00281-2

The Novel Variable Stifness Composite Systems with Characteristics of Repeatable High Load Bearing and Response Rate

 Zhiwei Tuo1  · Zhaohua Lin2  · Qian Zhao1  · Yunhong Liang1  · Han Wu1  · Chang Liu1  · ZhiWu Han1

1 The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China 

2 School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China 

AbstractOn the base of controllable variable stifness property, variable stifness composites were the main components of functional materials in aerospace. However, the relatively low mechanical strength, stifness range, and response rate restricted the application of variable stifness composite. In this work, the novel variable stifness composite system with characteristics of repeatable high load bearing and response rate was successfully prepared via the double-layer anisotropic structure to solve the bottlenecks of variable stifness composites. The novel variable stifness composite systems were composed of variable stifness layer of polycaprolactone (PCL) and the driven layer of silicone elastomer with alcohol, which continuously changed Young’s modulus from 0.1 to 7.263 MPa (72.63 times variation) in 200 s and maintained maximum weight of 11.52 times its own weight (8.5 g). Attributed to the relatively high variable stifness range and load bearing value of variable stifness composite system, the repeatable response process led to the efcient high load driven as “muscle” and diversifed precise grab of objects with diferent shapes as “gripper”, owning widespread application prospects in the feld of bionics.

 Keywords Variable stifness composite · High strength · Repeatable · High load bearing · Bionic