Return point memory in knitted fabrics
Elizabeth J. Dresselhaus, Sonja Hellebrand, Rajyasri Roy, Kranthi K. Mandadapu, Sanjay Govindjee · arXiv · 2025
Knitted fabrics exhibit return point memory, enabling advanced applications in soft robotics and artificial muscles.
Plain English summary
Why this matters
Key findings
- Knitted fabrics show significant hysteresis under cyclic uniaxial stress.
- These fabrics can 'remember' their response to previous deformations.
- The behavior observed deviates from standard models of hysteresis.
- A new phenomenological model of hysteresis is proposed.
- The findings have implications for applications in soft robotics and sensors.
What's new
The study reveals a unique hysteretic behavior in knitted fabrics that is not explained by existing models, suggesting new avenues for material design.
Limitations
The abstract does not provide details on the practical applications or limitations of the proposed model in real-world scenarios.
Commercial context
The findings are still in the research phase and have not yet been translated into commercial applications.
Publication
- Publisher
- arXiv
- Publication date
- December 1, 2025
- Research type
- Preprint
- arXiv
- 2512.02132
- Access
- open
Tags
More on Programmable Materials
See all →Shape optimization of 4D-printed multi-material morphing structures for enhanced structural stability
This study presents a shape optimization framework for enhancing the stiffness of 4D-printed multi-material morphing structures.
A Versatile‐Designable Framework for Active and Programmable Shape‐Morphing Soft Matter Systems: From Inverse Design to Closed‐Loop Control
This research presents a framework for active and programmable shape-morphing soft matter systems, enhancing soft robotics capabilities.
Architecting three-dimensional reconfigurable matter from pop-up kirigami with programmable multistability
This research presents a new platform for creating programmable multistable pop-up kirigami systems that can transform into complex 3D shapes.
Dimple-Encoded Reprogrammable Origami
This research presents a dimple-encoded origami platform that allows for reprogrammable shape-morphing and adaptive mechanical systems.
Geometric memory in incomplete phase transitions across dimensions
A nucleation-and-growth model with incomplete reversion produces a geometric memory in plate-size distributions, with stronger memory in 2D than in 3D or lamellar geometries.
On tailoring morphing mechanics of a bistable composite helical structure
A novel framework for tailoring the mechanics of bistable composite helical structures enhances their morphing capabilities for aerospace applications.
Recently published
Latest research →A modular block-based acoustic metamaterial absorber with coiled cavities for enhanced sound absorption
This research presents a modular acoustic metamaterial with tunable sound absorption capabilities for low-frequency applications.
A Comprehensive Study on the Development of Stimuli-Responsive Smart Polymer Systems for Controlled Drug Delivery
This study highlights the potential of multi-stimulus responsive smart polymers for enhanced drug delivery systems.
Bio-inspired re-entrant honeycomb metamaterial with programmable dual-plateau mechanical response
A bio-inspired re-entrant honeycomb mechanical metamaterial is described as having a programmable dual-plateau mechanical response.
Modelling the thermo-mechanical responses and shape recovery performance of particle-reinforced shape memory polymer composites in cold and hot programming
A study focused on modeling thermo-mechanical behavior and shape recovery of particle-reinforced shape-memory polymer composites when programmed in cold versus hot conditions.
