Concepts and Terminologies for 4D Printing

Abstract

© 2020 by the authors. 4D printing (4DP) is a promising technology that enables additive manufactured parts to be programmed for actuation, reducing the need for external power or electromechanical systems. As this area of research has grown exponentially, this review paper aims to define and establish fundamental concepts and terminologies used in the field of 4DP. The objective is to encourage researchers to adopt a more consistent approach and a standardized set of vocabulary associated with this emerging field. Even though the paper covers the most widely used definitions, the multidisciplinary nature may mean that certain words could be used interchangeably or have a different meaning in another context.