Transforming the Future of Aerospace: The Power of Shape-Shifting Materials
From Childhood Toys to Aircraft of the Future - May 9, 2023
Imagine a futuristic aircraft capable of changing its shape in split seconds to exploit aerodynamic forces and execute acrobatic maneuvers. The key to such incredible maneuverability lies in shape-shifting materials. Recently, scientists from China’s Beihang University in Beijing reported a breakthrough in manufacturing these materials.
Led by Pan Fei, the scientists developed a new material that can rapidly and significantly change its shape, potentially revolutionizing the creation of intelligent and adaptable materials and structures. The study, published in the scientific journal Advanced Functional Materials, describes a class of 2D and 3D chiral mechanical metamaterials made of prestressed bistable metallic shells and cylindrical cores.
The material has an anti-chiral design, in other words, it has an asymmetrical structure. Due to this design, the material can change from an extended, spread-out shape into a rolled-up form. This allows it to morph i…
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