Thermo-responsive jamming by particle shape change.

ABSTRACT: Granular materials transition between unjammed (deformable) and jammed (rigid) states when adjusting their packing density. Here, we report on experiments demonstrating that the same kind of phase transition can be alternatively achieved through temperature-controlled particle shape change. Using a confined system of randomly-packed rod-like particles made of shape memory alloy (SMA), we exploit that shape recovery of these bent rods with rising temperature at a constant packing density leads to a jammed state. The responsible physical processes are elucidated with numerical simulations based on the Discrete Element Method. As an exemplary application of the uncovered mechanism, we engineer a smart clamp that can actively grip or release an object through the thermo-induced jamming or unja

SUBMITTER: Han J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11889120 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature