  We analyze the performance of a reduced-order simulation of geometric
meta-materials based on zigzag patterns using a simplified representation. As
geometric meta-materials we denote planar cellular structures which can be
fabricated in 2d and bent elastically such that they approximate doubly-curved
2-manifold surfaces in 3d space. They obtain their elasticity attributes mainly
from the geometry of their cellular elements and their connections. In this
paper we focus on cells build from so-called zigzag springs. The physical
properties of the base material (i.e., the physical substance) influence the
behavior as well, but we essentially factor them out by keeping them constant.
  The simulation of such complex geometric structures comes with a high
computational cost, thus we propose an approach to reduce it by abstracting the
zigzag cells by a simpler model and by learning the properties of their elastic
deformation behavior. In particular, we analyze the influence of the sampling
of the full parameter space and the expressiveness of the reduced model
compared to the full model. Based on these observations, we draw conclusions on
how to simulate such complex meso-structures with simpler models.
