Inverse Design of 4D-printed Origami/Kirigami-Inspired Deployable Structures

Topic description

We invite applications for a PhD project focused on advancing the design and functionality of deployable structures through the integration of 4D printing, architected materials, and scientific machine learning (sciML). A part of large-scale initiative between UK (DSTL) and France (DGA-AID) on the 4D printing technology, this project aims to develop next-generation Origami and Kirigami-inspired systems, where geometry, material distribution, and embedded functionalities are co-designed to achieve programmable, adaptive shape transformations in response to controlled stimuli.

The research will explore how filament and fibre architecture can be leveraged as key design variables in 4D-printed systems, enabling controlled deployment and reconfiguration. Particular attention will be given to advanced printing features such as graded or voxel-based material distributions, surface coatings, and embedded elements (e.g., electrodes, heating pathw...