Modelling planar kirigami metamaterials as generalized elastic continua

Kirigami metamaterials dramatically change their shape through a coordinated motion of nearly rigid panels and flexible slits. Here, we study model system for mechanism-based planar kirigami featuring periodic patterns quadrilateral rhombi slits, with the goal predicting engineering scale response to broad range loads. We develop generalized continuum based on kirigami’s effective (cell-averaged) nonlinear deformation, along its slit actuation gradients thereof. The accounts three sources elasticity: strong preference fields match those local mechanism, inter-panel stresses arising from in actuation, distributed hinge bending. provide finite-element formulation this implement it using commercial software Abaqus. Simulations agree quantitatively experiments across designs loading conditions.