Kirigami–Miura-ori thin-walled structures with improved impact resistance

Inspired by traditional origami and kirigami arts, innovative folding techniques have recently been introduced to create advanced structural materials with tunable mechanical properties for building envelope applications. In this study, a novel kirigami-modified Miura-ori thin-walled structure was designed and fabricated via additive manufacturing using AISI 316 L stainless steel and Nylon 12 CF thermoplastic composite. The structures were developed as lightweight energy-absorbing cores for impact-resistant building envelopes, such as façades and roof systems. Quasi-static out-of-plane compression tests and drop-weight impact experiments were conducted to evaluate their crushing behavior and energy absorption capacity. The kirigami modifications effectively transformed the typical global buckling failure of conventional Miura-ori structures into a progressive and stable deformation mode, enabling improved load distribution and enhanced impact mitigation. Compared with the unmodified configuration, the kirigami-modified structures exhibited reductions in initial peak force, smoother force–displacement responses, and significant increases in specific energy absorption (SEA), ranging from 59 % to 458 %. Between the two constituent materials, Nylon 12 CF demonstrated lower SEA than 316 L stainless steel but offered clear advantages in weight reduction, making it more suitable for lightweight protective building applications. Material–structure synergy is achieved based on the microscopic characterization of the nonmetallic material. Overall, the proposed kirigami-modified Miura-ori structures present a promising approach for developing next-generation architectural protective systems, capable of enhancing the safety and sustainability of building envelopes under impact and blast loading.