The ROBOPROX project is happy to highlight two upcoming talks within the Solid Mechanics Seminar organized by the Department of Mechanics at the Czech Technical University in Prague. These presentations bring advanced research at the intersection of mechanics, materials science, and computational design — topics that strongly resonate with the goals of ROBOPROX. We warmly encourage students, researchers, and anyone interested in advanced mechanical systems and materials to attend. Whether you are working on simulations, materials, or robotics, these seminars are not to be missed. We look forward to seeing you there!
Inflatable Structures: Pressurized Panels and Metamaterials
Speaker: Paul Lacorre (Department of Mechanics, CTU in Prague)
Date and Time: April 15, 2026 | 12:00–13:00
Location: Room B-366, Thákurova 7, Prague 6
This talk presents a comprehensive overview of Paul Lacorre’s research on inflatable load-bearing structures and programmable metamaterials.
The first part of the presentation focuses on pressurized membrane panels — lightweight structures whose stiffness is significantly enhanced by internal pressure. The work combines analytical modeling, numerical simulations, and experimental validation, including bending and vibration tests. A key contribution lies in the derivation of nonlinear equations of motion capable of describing large deformations while capturing the stiffening effect induced by inflation.
The second part explores bio-inspired metamaterials, particularly artificial cellular structures whose mechanical properties can be tuned by adjusting internal pressure. Using finite element simulations and homogenization techniques, the research demonstrates how anisotropy can be actively programmed, leading to unconventional and nonlinear stiffness behavior. The study also investigates robustness and damage resilience, with promising implications for soft robotics and adaptive systems — directly relevant to the ROBOPROX vision.
Multi-Material and Multi-Joint Topology Optimization and Its Practical Applications
Speaker: Prof. Il Yong Kim (Queen’s University, Canada)
Date and Time: April 22, 2026 | 14:00–15:00
Location: Room B-168, Thákurova 7, Prague 6
This seminar introduces advanced developments in topology optimization, a powerful computational approach for designing efficient structures.
Prof. Kim will present a novel methodology for multi-material and multi-joint topology optimization. While traditional approaches assume perfect bonding between different materials, this work addresses a critical gap by explicitly incorporating joints and interfaces as design variables. This enables more realistic and practically applicable designs.
The talk will cover
- fundamentals of topology optimization,
- material interpolation methods for multiple materials,
- detection and modeling of material interface regions,
- sensitivity analysis for joint optimization.
Real-world case studies from aerospace and automotive engineering will illustrate how these methods can significantly improve structural performance and manufacturability.