Mechanical memory metal: a novel material for developing morphing engineering structures

This paper describes a profiled metallic sheet with discrete, self-locking modes of deformation, which can be curved, flattened or asymmetrical. This behaviour is achieved by depressing dimples on its surface, and is completely reversible. The governing mechanism depends on the interaction between residual stresses and non-linear deformation coupled to the orientation of each dimple, resulting in complex distortions; we predict these changes in shape using a straightforward computational model, which will expedite the design of novel morphing structures.