Multiscale structural behaviour of self-transforming chain mail beams: Geometric trends and scale-dependent interactions.
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| Title: | Multiscale structural behaviour of self-transforming chain mail beams: Geometric trends and scale-dependent interactions. |
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| Authors: | Afif, Nabila1 (AUTHOR) nafif@swin.edu.au, Ranscombe, Charlie1 (AUTHOR), Burry, Jane2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Space Structures. Sep2026, Vol. 41 Issue 3, p158-170. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Continuous beams (Structural engineering), Structural analysis (Engineering), Smart structures, Curvature, Morphology, Three-dimensional imaging |
| Abstract: | 3D chain mail assemblies have recently emerged as a promising class of self-transforming structural systems, yet their behaviour at larger scales remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether geometric outcomes observed in small prototypes persist when the same interlocking assembly is enlarged. This study investigates the multiscale behaviour of a gravity-actuated 3D chain mail curved-beam configuration realised at three geometric scales (1:10, 1:2 and 1:1). Using physical prototyping and 3D scanning, global form is evaluated through span–height outcomes and curvature-profile fitting, while local interaction is characterised through intermodular opening angles as an indicator of how jamming develops along the beam during self-transformation. Results show that, despite increased weight and changes in surface friction with scale, the global curvature profile remains consistently well described by the Catenary model across all scales tested. In contrast, dimensional proportions and intermodular opening angle distributions vary with scale, with greater non-uniformity at full scale. Together, these findings show that robust global curvature can coexist with scale-sensitive local interaction behaviour, highlighting comparative geometric trends and scale-dependent interaction patterns across scales and providing insight into the multiscale behaviour of 3D chain mail beam assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Space Structures is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 196785191 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Multiscale structural behaviour of self-transforming chain mail beams: Geometric trends and scale-dependent interactions. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Afif%2C+Nabila%22">Afif, Nabila</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> nafif@swin.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ranscombe%2C+Charlie%22">Ranscombe, Charlie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burry%2C+Jane%22">Burry, Jane</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Space+Structures%22">International Journal of Space Structures</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 41 Issue 3, p158-170. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Continuous+beams+%28Structural+engineering%29%22">Continuous beams (Structural engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+analysis+%28Engineering%29%22">Structural analysis (Engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Smart+structures%22">Smart structures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curvature%22">Curvature</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Morphology%22">Morphology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Three-dimensional+imaging%22">Three-dimensional imaging</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: 3D chain mail assemblies have recently emerged as a promising class of self-transforming structural systems, yet their behaviour at larger scales remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether geometric outcomes observed in small prototypes persist when the same interlocking assembly is enlarged. This study investigates the multiscale behaviour of a gravity-actuated 3D chain mail curved-beam configuration realised at three geometric scales (1:10, 1:2 and 1:1). Using physical prototyping and 3D scanning, global form is evaluated through span–height outcomes and curvature-profile fitting, while local interaction is characterised through intermodular opening angles as an indicator of how jamming develops along the beam during self-transformation. Results show that, despite increased weight and changes in surface friction with scale, the global curvature profile remains consistently well described by the Catenary model across all scales tested. In contrast, dimensional proportions and intermodular opening angle distributions vary with scale, with greater non-uniformity at full scale. Together, these findings show that robust global curvature can coexist with scale-sensitive local interaction behaviour, highlighting comparative geometric trends and scale-dependent interaction patterns across scales and providing insight into the multiscale behaviour of 3D chain mail beam assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Space Structures is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/09560599261452135 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 158 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Continuous beams (Structural engineering) Type: general – SubjectFull: Structural analysis (Engineering) Type: general – SubjectFull: Smart structures Type: general – SubjectFull: Curvature Type: general – SubjectFull: Morphology Type: general – SubjectFull: Three-dimensional imaging Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Multiscale structural behaviour of self-transforming chain mail beams: Geometric trends and scale-dependent interactions. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Afif, Nabila – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ranscombe, Charlie – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Burry, Jane IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 09 Text: Sep2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09560599 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 41 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Space Structures Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
