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KEEN
FOOTWEAR
Department of Innovation & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Software / Rhino, Grasshopper, Maya
Research / Auxetic Structures, Running Biomechanics
Summer Internship
June 2019 - August 2019
OBJECTIVE
DESIGN A SHOE MIDSOLE OF DYNAMIC STRUCTURE
THAT PROVIDES CUSHIONING IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE ANGULAR LANDING PATTERN OF A NORMAL WALKING GAIT
Inspiration
TREK WAVECEL BIKING HELMET
FLEX
CRUMPLE
GLIDE
Traumatic brain injury suffered during a head collision is less a result from the initial impact and and more a consequence of the head's subsequent rotational acceleration.
A collapsible cellular structure functioned to not only dampen the initial force, but also to mitigate and suspend the rapid internal acceleration.
Supervisors:
John Healy
Kostika Spaho
Sam Windom
PRELIMINARY
IDEATION
Foldable, symmetrical structures
that can deform in shear
Folding achieves stiffness at minimum expense of weight
Shock-absorbing properties, including higher local buckling
Origami Folding: A Structural Engieering Approach
Mark Schenk and Simon D. Guest
September 14, 2010
DESIGN CONCEPTIOn:
auxetic structures
Auxetic | [awg-zet-ik]
Greek origin: αὐξητικός
"that which tends to increase"
A structure expands and contracts inversely to convention, exhibiting a negative Poisson's ratio
In other words, when stretched/compressed in one direction,
it also expands/contracts in the perpendicular axis'
Beneficial mechanical properties of
energy absorption, dissipation, and resilience
AUXETIC DEFORMATION
Deformation pattern 'flows' along regions of pressure,
creating pockets of dense zones
to support areas beneath the applied force
PRIMARY DESIGN:
Auxetic Grid
Rectangles of interchanging length and width
whose offset space allows for a collapsible deformation pattern
Structure embedded within
rearfoot region of the midsole. Greatest structural activity seen during heel strike.
First prototypes were printed too small
and, as a result, were too stiff
An updated model was scaled significantly yet the upright orientation of the overall grid prevented a deformation pattern that flows throughout the structure and follows the foot's landing
Each rectangular unit within the grid was rotated counter-clockwise to align more in accordance with the direction of impact
This optimized orientation allowed the entire structure to collapse coherently throughout the entire footstep
FURTHER EXPLORATION:
SECTIONED HONEYCOMB
'Lamp-shaped' auxetic structure displayed an interesting contraction pattern, yet it was too collapsible, lacking sufficient support
This geometry must be combined with another auxetic arrangement that could uphold the model's structural integrity
The organization of the honeycomb
provides firm stability while its
pores grant cushioning comfort.
Encased between this pattern
is a 'lamp-shaped' structure that
bears the main deformation used
to dampen the angled impact.
Keen is one of the few footwear companies who has developed a
US-based manufacturing site.
Their line of 'American-built' products are made at their very own factory only a short drive from their headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Our team's office was located within this factory, allowing us to directly study the creation process beyond just sketches and ideation, the intricacies of the production line behind the injection molded parts, upper assembly, and packaging
KEEN FACTORY
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