Dissertation Defence: Metamaterial Development for Mechanical Interfacial Tuning and Sensing Applications

Zahra Azimi Dijveijn, supervised by Dr. Kevin Golovin and Dr. Alexander Uhl, will defend their dissertation titled “Metamaterial Development for Mechanical Interfacial Tuning and Sensing Applications” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering.

An abstract for Zahra Azimi Dijveijn’s dissertation is included below.

Examinations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public.
Please email kevin.golovin@ubc.ca or  alexander.uhl@ubc.ca to receive the zoom link for this defence.

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ABSTRACT

This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the design and fabrication of kirigami, a 2D mechanical metamaterial, and microwave sensing metamaterials for various applications, including antifouling surfaces and sensors. This work focuses on the development of suspended kirigami inverted Nil-adhesion surfaces (SKINS) for reducing foulant adhesion, the application of electrical microwave sensors in smart low interfacial toughness coatings (LIT) for hybrid de-icing, and the combination of electrical and mechanical metamaterials for strain and humidity sensing. The study discusses the novel approach of SKINS for fouling reduction, showcasing the unique capabilities of kirigami-based design in mitigating fouling issues. It further presents the investigation of electrical microwave sensors and their role in creating smart LIT coatings, with a focus on temperature effects and the potential to tailor interfacial properties through heater coverage. Additionally, this work details the design and optimization of kirigami structures and split ring resonators for strain sensing, as well as the study of humidity sensing and thermal regulation using kirigami structures fabricated from humidity-absorber material, Nylon 6-6. Overall, this thesis contributes to the field of metamaterials and highlights their potential for further research and practical applications. The findings presented in this thesis pave the way for advancements in areas such as antifouling surfaces, sensors, and smart coatings, and provide insights for future research in the field of metamaterials.