Structural Design of a Kirigami Gripper by Finite Element Method

Kirigami, an art form derived from paper-art, has gained attention in both artistic and engineering domains due to its ability to transform into complex geometric structures. This study focuses on a type of kirigami gripper, and studies three geometric parameters’ influence on the gripper’s mechanical performances. Experiments were conducted to examine the gripper's uniaxial tensile performance. The results showed a correlation between gripper thickness and tensile force, with thinner structures exhibiting easier deformation and larger displacement. Besides, the length of the cut mainly affected the trend of global curling and local bulging deformation, whereas the cut width mainly affected the max stress. These findings contribute to the understanding of kirigami grippers and their potential applications in various fields.