Novelino Research Group |

Principal Investigator

Dr. Larissa Novelino is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University.

Origami Metamaterial

Mechanical metamaterials inspired by origami patterns have gained attention because of their potential to yield deployable and highly tunable assemblies. The inherent foldability of origami structures enlarges the material design space with remarkable properties such as auxeticity and high deformation recoverability and deployability.

Untethered Control

Deployability, multifunctionality, and tunability are features that can be explored in the design space of origami engineering solutions. These features arise from the shape-changing capabilities of origami assemblies, which require actuation for full functionality. We introduce an origami system with magnetic control.

Tunable Structures

Origami-based RF components are highly versatile. They allow continuous-state reconfigurability, support multilayer frequency-selective surfaces, have large reconfigurability ratios, and offer independent control over bandwidth, frequency, and angle of incidence.

Origami Imperfections

Origami structures demonstrate great theoretical potential for creating metamaterials with exotic properties. However, there is a lack of understanding of how imperfections influence the mechanical behavior of origami-based metamaterials, which, in practice, are inevitable.

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Research Interest

Our group focuses on Origami Engineering, where we find inspiration in the Japanese art of paper folding to develop unique materials and structures.

Geometric

Mechanics

In our group, we evaluate the mechanical properties of origami patterns based on their geometric parameters and kinematics. This helps us select the most suitable pattern for each application

Deployable

Structures

Deployable structures are capable of a drastic shape change. Our group explores different methods to control these structures’ deployment.

Manufacturing

Our group specializes in the manufacturing of origami-inspired structures. Among the techniques we’re exploring, additive manufacturing is a particularly promising.

Tunable and Reconfigurable Structures

Tunable and reconfigurable structures can adapt their response on-the-fly. In our group, we explore how changes in geometry and shape can endow these structures with such capabilities.

Opportunities

The Novelino Research Group enthusiastically seeks passionate students to join us. We are particularly interested in candidates aiming to pursue a Ph.D. in one of our focus areas. Please visit the department’s admissions website for detailed application procedures and eligibility requirements. While you are welcome to contact us directly using the contact form, please note that it may not always be possible to respond. We therefore strongly encourage you to apply formally through the department website, making sure to specify your interest in our research group.