Abstract
Wang tilings, proposed originally in mathematical logic, have subsequently found applications in computer graphics, statistical physics, and biological computation. This talk explores their potential in designing, fabricating, and self-assembling architectured (meta)materials.
The talk is divided into three parts. First, we introduce the concept in its simplest form. It uses a single hard tile, possibly rotated by 90 degrees, allowing the assembly of structures with a locally controlled Poisson ratio. The second part extends to vertex-based Wang tilings and addresses the design of a porous metamaterial with a non-periodic structure, highlighting its modularity and potential for robotic fabrication. The final part focuses on the centimeter-scale self-assembly with magneto-mechanical tiles that form checkerboard patterns under external mechanical excitation, with error-correcting features. The limitations of this approach are discussed, along with a simulation-based strategy for scaling up the pattern sizes. This work received funding from the Czech Science Foundation under project No. 19-26143X.
Short bio
Dr. Jan Zeman, Full Professor at Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague, leads the Open Mechanics Group, researching the interfaces between applied mechanics and mathematics. His interests include modeling deterministic and stochastic heterogeneous materials, variational techniques for inelastic materials, and mathematical analysis of engineering problems in general.
Earning top CTU and national awards, Jan received his Ph.D. in 2003. His previous activities were funded by a Marie-Curie Fellowship and several Czech Science Foundation projects. Since 2019, his focus has shifted to the computational design of modular metamaterials, mechanisms, and structures, supported by two long-term competitive projects PERFORM and ROBOPROX.