Seminar: "Modeling Origami Metamaterials: A Mechanics of Structure Genome Approach"
Guest Lecturer: Professor Wenbin Yu, Milton Clauser Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
HOW CAN ORIGAMI SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERED MATERIALS?
As part of his visit to the Institute for Advanced Studies at Tel Aviv University as an IAS Fulbright–TAU Senior Scholar, Prof. Wenbin Yu (Purdue University) will deliver a lecture titled “Modeling Origami Metamaterials: A Mechanics of Structure Genome Approach.”
Origami enables the transformation of flat sheets into complex three-dimensional structures with highly tunable mechanical properties, giving rise to architected metamaterials governed primarily by geometry rather than constituent materials. In this talk, I will present a novel modeling approach for origami metamaterials based on the Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG). The results demonstrate that MSG achieves high fidelity while significantly reducing computational cost.
COURSE DETAILS
Where: Room 206, Wolfson Building
When: Monday, April 20, 2026 | 14:00
Light refreshments will be served before the seminar.
The seminar will be conducted in English.
This course is open to the public.
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Prof. Wenbin Yu is the Milton Clauser Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University and a Distinguished Senior Fulbright Scholar at Tel Aviv University. He also serves as the Director for the Composites Design and Manufacturing HUB and the Chief Technology Officer of AnalySwift LLC.
His areas of expertise include micromechanics and structural mechanics, with a focus on anisotropic and heterogeneous materials and structures. Prof. Yu has an extensive research portfolio, having authored one book and over 130 journal papers. He has also developed ten computer codes, widely used by tens of thousands across government labs, universities, and research institutes.
Prof. Yu is a Fellow of both ASME and ASC and an Associate Fellow of AIAA. He chaired ASME Aerospace Division Executive Committee and AIAA Materials Technical Committee. He initiated and chaired the ASME SSDM conference. He also served as the technical program chair for ASME IMECE 2025 and on the editorial board of nine international journals. He received ASC Award in Composites, ASC Outstanding Researcher Award, ASME Boeing structures and materials award, ASME Dedicated Service Award, JEC Innovation Award, ASEE Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award, Georgia Tech Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni Award, etc.
FULL ABSTRACT
MODELING ORIGAMI METAMATERIALS: A MECHANICS OF STRUCTURE GENOME APPROACH
Origami enables the transformation of flat sheets into complex three-dimensional structures with highly tunable mechanical properties, giving rise to architected metamaterials governed primarily by geometry rather than constituent materials. These systems highlight a broader shift toward architecture-driven design and call for unified modeling frameworks that can support efficient and predictive analysis.
In this talk, I will present a novel modeling approach for origami metamaterials based on the Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG). The method represents origami as assemblies of elastic plates connected by creases with finite torsional stiffness, providing a physics-based and computationally efficient framework. Focusing on linear elastic behavior, the MSG-based model is compared with detailed finite element analysis, homogenization methods, and classical bar-and-hinge models for representative patterns such as Accordion and Miura origami.
The results demonstrate that MSG achieves high fidelity while significantly reducing computational cost. This work establishes a scalable pathway for modeling architected materials and lays the foundation for integrating physics-based simulation with AI-driven design frameworks.
