SIUC Physics Seminar
School of Physics and Applied Physics, Southern Illinois University--Carbondale
2025 October 17 Friday 3:00 PM:
Physics Seminar in Neckers 440
Title: Triply Periodic Helical Weaves
Speaker: Duston Wetzel
Affiliation: Southern Illinois University--Carbondale
Abstract:
Weaving typically involves forming a surface by interlacing fibers into a
mechanically stable arrangement, effectively making a two-dimensional object
out of one-dimensional objects. Moorish Fretwork involves interweaving
solid helical elements into mechanically
stable two-dimensional arrangements by exploiting the helices' screw symmetry.
A three-dimensional extension of this idea was demonstrated
by Alexandru Usineviciu at the Bridges mathematical art conference in 2015.
Here we expand the idea further by considering
cases informed by invariant cylindrical rod packing and discuss interweaving
geodesics of the gyroid. Simulations and/or physical models of twenty-eight
unique triply periodic arrangements of interwoven helices are shown,
with physical models demonstrated for sixteen.
Much of this presentation is based on a co-authored paper:
https://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2024/bridges2024-267.pdf
Link to Duston's Instagram Post.
Biography:
Duston Wetzel is a recent graduate of SIU, receiving an M.S. in Physics in 2021
and a Ph.D. in Applied Physics in 2024. Before that, he received a B.S.
in Nanoscience from Northwest Missouri State University. While at SIU,
Duston's formal research focused on magneto-transport and magneto-optics
in the novel materials and heterostructures laboratory. Among other things,
he studied magneto-transport in bilayers involving ferromagnets and
topological insulators for his M.S. and the anomalous and topological Hall
effects in a novel Mn-based Heusler thin film for his Ph.D. In addition
to his schoolwork, as something of a hobby project since 2019, he has been
involved in the design and development of dozens of ''helical weaves'',
including doubly periodic, triply periodic, polygonal, and polyhedral weaves.
These structures exploit the screw symmetry of helical modular elements
and friction to realize complex geometric forms without glue or welding.
In his free time, Duston enjoys spending time with friends and family, creating
mathematical art, playing musical instruments, and exploring nature.
Last updated on
by K V Shajesh
(kvshajesh@gmail.com).