Towards Flexible Material Systems: Stella Shen’s PhD Proposal
Stella Shen’s PhD proposal presentation, Flexible Material Systems from Rigid Planar Sheets through Cut Patterns will take place on January 16 at 1.30 pm. All CM-A are cordially invited. Please see details below.
PhD Proposal
Flexible Material Systems from Rigid Planar Sheets through Cut Patterns
Stella Shen, PhD Candidate in Computational Design, Carnegie Mellon Architecture
Date: Jan 16, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Abstract
In this dissertation, I introduce a new class of linkage-based metamorphic metamaterials constructed from rigid planar sheets. These systems leverage computationally designed cut patterns and kinematic assemblies to transform flat, stiff materials into architected structures capable of complex three-dimensional reconfiguration. The work advances flexible material systems by expanding their design space into the dimensions of time, space, and motion—achieving flexibility through rigidity while working within material and fabrication constraints.
The dissertation comprises three major thrusts. First, I introduce the metamorphic mechanism and its constituent base units, which enable rigid sheets to transition between two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations. Second, I formalize the configuration space of this mechanism through computational modeling, establishing parameters, branching structures, and deformation pathways that clarify how the system’s high-dimensional design space may be explored and shaped. Third, I investigate the mechanism’s material and functional generalizability through cross-scale prototypes, demonstrating that a single geometric logic can be instantiated across object-, machine-, and architectural-scale systems to produce a family of metamorphic metamaterials. By testing the mechanism at multiple scales and in different materials, the work illustrates its broader relevance for applications ranging from adaptable robotic substrates to reconfigurable interfaces and transformable architectural components. Together, these components articulate a holistic framework that integrates computational design, mechanical reasoning, and materials research.
To date, this research has 1) established the core geometric principles of the metamorphic mechanism, 2) defined the building block, 3) developed base unit and its derivations, 4) explored system level assemblies, and 5) validated their kinematic behavior through prototypes fabricated in MDF, fiberglass, and PLA. Building on these foundations, the remainder of the dissertation will formalize the computational design framework, realize two cross-scale prototypes, evaluate and specify design constraints and spaces with different materials and scales. These efforts will culminate in a synthesized framework that integrates geometry, computation, and material behavior into a coherent design methodology for flexible material systems.
Dissertation Committee
Dr. Daniel Cardoso Llach (advisor and chair)
Associate Professor of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Juney Lee (advisor)
T. David Fitz-Gibbon Assistant Professor of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Liwei Wang (advisor)
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Lining Yao (external advisor)
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Category: Projects