Researchers from the UvA Institute of Physics have found a way to design materials that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations. Typically, materials are either stiff or can absorb vibrations well, but rarely both. The team discovered that using materials that buckle, such as thin metal sheets, can create constructions that are great absorbers of vibrations while preserving a lot of the stiffness of the material. The sheets do not need to be very thick, so the material can be kept relatively lightweight. The potential applications for the technology range from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering.
this article from Technology Networks, researchers from the UvA Institute of Physics have discovered a way to design materials that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations. This breakthrough could have a wide range of applications, from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering.
The team of researchers found that the key to creating these materials was to use materials that buckle, like thin metal sheets. When put together in a clever way, constructions made out of such buckled sheets become great absorbers of vibrations – but at the same time, they preserve a lot of the stiffness of the material they are made out of. Moreover, the sheets do not need to be very thick, and so the material can be kept relatively light.
Usually, materials that are good at absorbing vibrations are not stiff enough to withstand pressure, and vice versa. However, with this new approach, the researchers were able to create materials that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations. This could have a wide range of applications, from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering.
The researchers thoroughly investigated the properties of these buckled materials, and found that they all showed these desired properties. The image in the article shows an example of a material that uses this buckling of metal sheets to combine all of these desired properties.
This breakthrough could have a wide range of applications, from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering. For example, it could be used to create more efficient and lightweight aircraft components, or to create better shock absorbers for vehicles.
In summary, the researchers from the UvA Institute of Physics have discovered a way to create materials that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations. This breakthrough could have a wide range of applications, from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering. The key to creating these materials was to use materials that buckle, like thin metal sheets, and construct them in a clever way. This could lead to more efficient and lightweight aircraft components, better shock absorbers for vehicles, and many other applications.
