  The process of self-morphing in curved surfaces found in nature, such as with
the growth of flowers and leaves, has generated interest in the study of
self-morphing bilayers, which has been used in many soft robots or switchers.
However, previous research has primarily focused on materials or bilayer
fabrication technologies. The self-morphing mechanism and process have been
rarely investigated, despite their importance. This study proposed a new
deformation simulation method for self-morphing bilayers based on a
checkerboard-based discrete differential geometry approach. This new method
achieved higher efficiency than traditional finite element methods while still
maintaining accuracy. It was also effective in handling complex finite strain
situations. Finally, the simulation model was used to design three
self-morphing bilayers inspired by folding flowers, spiral grass, and conical
seashells. These designs further prove the effectiveness of the proposed
method. The results of this study propose a good method for predicting
deformation and designing self-morphing bilayers and provide a useful viewpoint
for using geometrical methods to solve mechanical problems.
