Compliant Mechanisms

While engineering usually relies on complexity to achieve more functionality and better performance, compliant mechanisms can outperform classical solutions by the “less is more” principle. Compliant mechanisms transmit and transform force and motion by undergoing elastic deformation of their flexible segments, as opposed to rigid body parts and joints. While it may be easier to fabricate compliant mechanisms, it is challenging to understand their underlying behaviors as they have a monolithic structure and their design is complex because kinematics and kinetics cannot be treated separately.
This course will enable students to synthesize, design, model, build and test a compliant mechanism and experience a blend of creativity, theory, simulation, and hands-on experiments. Based on a self-selected design assignment, students apply the knowledge from the lectures (learning objectives) to their project, create a 2D/3D design, produce this by laser cutting or 3D printing, and generate different theoretical models (Pseudo Rigid Body model/Beam theory and Finite Element model) that will be compared with experimental data of their design. The course will conclude with a mini-symposium where students will present their work in the format of poster, presentation and demo.