Photo of Jared Butler

Jared Butler

Associate Professor
Student Engagement Coordinator

Affiliation(s):

  • School of Engineering Design and Innovation
  • Engineering Design
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering

207 Engineering Design and Innovation Building

jpb6635@psu.edu

814-863-1537

Research Website

Research Areas:

Engineering Design

Interest Areas:

Mechanical System Design, including Compliant Mechanisms, Origami-Inspired Mechanisms, Developable Mechanisms, Space Mechanisms, Medical Devices; Budding Interest: Design Pedagogy

 
 

 

Education

  • BS, Physics, Utah State University, 2014
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, 2017
  • Ph D, Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, 2020

Publications

Books

  • Jared Butler, David Morgan, Denise Halverson, Spencer Magleby, Terri Bateman and Larry Howell, 2017, Y Origami? Explorations in Folding

Journal Articles

  • Jared Butler, Taylor Greenwood, Jacob Greenwood and Mary I Frecker, 2026, "Pseudo-Reflection: A Graphical Method to Predict Stable Positions in Bistable Linkages", Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, Gary F Updegrove, April D. Armstrong, Hwa Bok Wee, Gregory Stephen Lewis and Mary I Frecker, 2026, "Flexure-Based Locking Plates Can Modulate Interfragmentary Motion in Distal Femur and Diaphyseal Fractures: A Parametric Finite Element Analysis", ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
  • Jared Butler, Evelyn Thomas and Nicholas A. Meisel, 2026, "A Systematic Framework for the Design & Manufacturing of Voxel-Based Multi-material Thick Folding Origami", Rapid Prototyping Journal
  • Jared Butler, Lance Hyatt, Christopher Scott Bentley, Philip Buskohl and Ryan Harne, 2025, "Shape Referencing in Reconfigurable Beams Using Liquid Crystal Elastomers", Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
  • Jared Butler, Lance Hyatt, Philip Buskohl and Ryan Harne, 2025, "Harnessing Liquid Crystal Elastomers for Locomotion and Mechanical Intelligence in a Soft Robot", Soft Robotics
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, Gregory Stephen Lewis, Gary F Updegrove and April D. Armstrong, 2025, "Dynamic Fracture Fixation Plates: A Systematic Review of Evolving Design Approaches", Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 53, pp. 1271–1290
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, Gregory Stephen Lewis, April D. Armstrong, Gary F Updegrove and Zachary Koroneos, 2024, "Mechanically Compliant Locking Plates for Diaphyseal Fracture Fixation: A Biomechanical Study", Journal of Orthopedic Research, 43, (1), pp. 217-227
  • Jared Butler and Connor Huxman, 2024, "Modeling Stiffness and Stress in Serpentine Flexures for Use in a Compliant Bone Plate", ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 146, (4), pp. 043303 (11 pages)
  • Jared Butler, Christopher S Bentley and Ryan Harne, 2024, "Tailoring the time delay of deployable structures using the Intermediate Axis Theorem", Engineering Structures, 303, pp. 117531
  • Jared Butler, Henry Vennard and Jacob Greenwood, 2024, "Design Considerations for the Dimensional Synthesis of Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms", ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 146, (1), pp. 013301 (11 pages)
  • Jared Butler and Connor Huxman, 2023, "An Analytical Stress–Deflection Model for Fixed-Clamped Flexures Using a Pseudo-Rigid-Body Approach", ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 15, (6), pp. 061010 (11 pages)
  • Jared Butler and Connor Huxman, 2021, "A Systematic Review of Compliant Mechanisms as Orthopedic Implants", ASME Journal of Medical Devices, 15, (4), pp. 040802 (12 pages)
  • Jared Butler, Jacob Greenwood, Larry Howell and Spencer Magleby, 2021, "Bistability in Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms Through the Principle of Reflection", ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 143, (8), pp. 083302 (13 pages)
  • Jared Butler, Junqi Zhao, Boyang Zhou, Randall Bock, Joseph Portelli and Sven Bilen, 2021, "IoT-Based Sanitizer Station Network: A Facilities Management Case Study on Monitoring Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Usage", Smart Cities, 4, (3)
  • Jared Butler, Lance Hyatt, Jacob Greenwood, Spencer Magleby and Larry Howell, 2021, "Methods for Mapping Mechanisms to Developable Surfaces", International Journal of Mechanisms and Robotic Systems, 5, (1/2), pp. pp 39-60
  • Jared Butler, Jacob Greenwood, Larry Howell and Spencer Magleby, 2021, "Limits of Extramobile and Intramobile Motion of Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms", ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 13, (1), pp. 011024 (8 pages)
  • Jared Butler, Brandon Sargent, Kendall Seymour, David Bailey, Brian Jensen, Spencer Magleby and Larry Howell, 2020, "An Origami-Based Medical Support System to Mitigate Flexible Shaft Buckling", Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 12, (4), pp. 041005-1 to 041005-12
  • Jared Butler, Nathan Pehrson and S Magleby, 2020, "Folding of Thick Origami Through Regionally Sandwiched Compliant Sheets", Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 12, (1), pp. 011019 (9 pages)
  • Jared Butler, Landen Bowen, Eric Wilcox, Adam Shrager, Mary Frecker, Paris von Lockette, Timothy Simpson, Robert Lang, Larry Howell and Spencer Magleby, 2018, "A Model for Multi-Input Mechanical Advantage in Origami-Based Mechanisms", Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 10, (6), pp. 061007 (9 pages)

Conference Proceedings

  • Jared Butler, Evelyn Thomas and Nicholas A. Meisel, 2025, "A Design and Additive Manufacturing Framework for Voxel-Based, Multi-Material, Thick-Folding Origami", International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
  • Jared Butler, Sumant Rokade and Nicholas A. Meisel, 2025, "Design for Additive Manufacturing Considerations for Compliant Constant Force Mechanisms", International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, Gary F Updegrove, April D. Armstrong and Gregory Stephen Lewis, 2024, "A Flexible Patella Fracture Device for Increased Anterior Cortical Compression", Design of Medical Devices, 87752, pp. V001T09A011; 5 pages
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, April D. Armstrong, Gary F Updegrove and Gregory Stephen Lewis, 2024, "Compression Plating of Long Bone Fractures with Flexure-Based Compliant Locking Plates", Design of Medical Devices, 87752, pp. V001T09A010; 6 pages
  • Jared Butler and Connor Huxman, 2023, "A Force- and Stress-Deflection Model of Serpentine Flexures for Use in a Compliant Bone Plate", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, pp. V008T08A032; 10 pages
  • Jared Butler, Henry Vennard and Jacob Greenwood, 2023, "Design Factors for the Dimensional Synthesis of Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, 87363, pp. V008T08A093; 12 pages
  • Jared Butler, Evelyn Thomas and Nicholas Meisel, 2023, "A Framework Establishing the Bounds of Small Angle Assumptions in Multi-material Additively Manufactured Compliant Mechanisms", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, State College, United States, 87301, pp. V03AT03A044; 12 pages
  • Jared Butler, Connor Huxman, Gregory Stephen Butler, Gary F Updegrove and April D. Armstrong, 2023, "A Compliant Fracture Fixation Plate for Controlled Axial Motion in Long Bone Healing", Design of Medical Devices Conference, 86731, pp. V001T09A010; 5 pages
  • Jared Butler and Connor Huxman, 2022, "A Stress-Deflection Model for Fixed-Clamped Flexures Using a Pseudo Rigid Body Approach", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, 86281, pp. V007T07A013; 11 pages
  • Jared Butler, Jacob Greenwood, Larry Howell and Spencer Magleby, 2020, "Limits of Extramobile and Intramobile Motion of Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms", International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, 83990, pp. V010T10A084
  • Jared Butler, Hyatt, Greenwood, Spencer Magleby and Larry Howell, 2020, "Using Cyclic Quadrilaterals to Design Cylindrical Developable Mechanisms", Proceedings of the 2020 USCToMM Symposium on Mechanical Systems and Robotics, pp. pp 149–159
  • Jared Butler, Pehrson and Spencer Magleby, 2019, "Thick Folding Through Regionally Sandwiched Compliant Sheets", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, pp. V05BT07A041; 11 pages
  • Jared Butler, David Andrews and Alex Avila, 2019, "Kirigami-Based Deployable Transcrease Hard Stop Models Usable in Origami Patterns", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, pp. V05BT07A044; 9 pages
  • Jared Butler, Trent Zimmerman, Dallin Frandsen, Dakota Burrow, David Full, Spencer Magleby and Larry Howell, 2018, "Modified Material Properties in Curved Panels Through Lamina Emergent Torsional Joints", IEEE/IFToMM Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robotics Conference
  • Jared Butler, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell, Stephan Mancini and Aaron Parness, 2017, "Highly Compressible Origami Bellows for Microgravity Drilling-Debris Containment", AIAA SPACE Forum
  • Jared Butler, Jessica Morgan, Nathan Pehrson, Bateman, Spencer Magleby and Larry Howell, 2016, "Highly Compressive Origami Bellows for Harsh Environments", ASME International Design, Engineering, and Technical Conferences, pp. V05BT07A001; 11 pages

Research Projects

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Penn State Engineering Alumni Society, June 2025
  • Reviewer of the Year, ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, February 2022
  • Compliant Mechanism Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, August 2019

Service

Service to Penn State:

Service to External Organizations:

 


 

About

The School of Engineering Design and Innovation delivers effective engineering education and unrivaled research opportunities through active, collaborative, project-based, and professionally oriented classroom experiences. The school offers a variety of programs that partner faculty, students, and industry in the study of real-life engineering problems. Our programs teach students to solve real-life problems with innovative solutions. 

School of Engineering Design and Innovation

304 Engineering Design and Innovation Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2952