A generalised framework for designing topological interlocking structures from monomorphic elements

Wang, S; Lin, X; Zhang, YX; Xie, YM

A generalised framework for designing topological interlocking structures from monomorphic elements

Wang, S Lin, X Zhang, YX Xie, YM

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Engineering Structures, 2025, 338, pp. 120607
Issue Date:: 2025-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Wang, S
dc.contributor.author	Lin, X
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, YX
dc.contributor.author	Xie, YM
dc.date.accessioned	2025-10-09T06:21:29Z
dc.date.available	2025-10-09T06:21:29Z
dc.date.issued	2025-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	Engineering Structures, 2025, 338, pp. 120607
dc.identifier.issn	0141-0296
dc.identifier.issn	1873-7323
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190348
dc.description.abstract	Topological interlocking (TI) structures, known for their superior energy dissipation, damage tolerance, and adaptability, are gaining increasing attention as innovative solutions to advanced structural designs. In this study, a general framework is developed for designing TI elements with curved contact surfaces, enabling the creation of monomorphic elements through a matched concavo-convex interface. The element shapes are controlled by parameters such as polygon type, polygon length, curve function, and element thickness. This approach can be applied to designing TI elements for both planar and non-planar structures. Validation is achieved through the design of 24 planar and 12 non-planar TI elements, along with two 3D-printed prototypes. Furthermore, the impact performance of typical TI plates is compared to that of a monolithic structure to demonstrate the effectiveness of the generalised interlocking mechanism.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Engineering Structures
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120607
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering, 0912 Materials Engineering, 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Civil Engineering
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	A generalised framework for designing topological interlocking structures from monomorphic elements
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	338
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	0912 Materials Engineering
utslib.for	0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-10-09T06:21:27Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	338

Abstract:

Topological interlocking (TI) structures, known for their superior energy dissipation, damage tolerance, and adaptability, are gaining increasing attention as innovative solutions to advanced structural designs. In this study, a general framework is developed for designing TI elements with curved contact surfaces, enabling the creation of monomorphic elements through a matched concavo-convex interface. The element shapes are controlled by parameters such as polygon type, polygon length, curve function, and element thickness. This approach can be applied to designing TI elements for both planar and non-planar structures. Validation is achieved through the design of 24 planar and 12 non-planar TI elements, along with two 3D-printed prototypes. Furthermore, the impact performance of typical TI plates is compared to that of a monolithic structure to demonstrate the effectiveness of the generalised interlocking mechanism.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190348