[Science] How to design materials with reprogrammable shape and function

GIGO · Jan 20, 2017

Was going to post just the gifs in Unsorted, but changed my mind. Hope this isn't a redundant post or thread.

The shape shifting building blocks that could revolutionise everything from construction to playtime

- Harvard created a general framework for building shape-shifting blocks
- Team used computational models to create a blueprint for engineers
- Prototypes built using cardboard, sided-tape and multimaterial 3D printing
- Like origami, the structure can be folded along their edges to change shape

By Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com
PUBLISHED: 17:17 GMT, 19 January 2017 | UPDATED: 17:18 GMT, 19 January 2017

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A toolkit for transformable materials
How to design materials with reprogrammable shape and function

By Leah Burrows
January 18, 2017

Metamaterials — materials whose function is determined by structure, not composition — have been designed to bend light and sound, transform from soft to stiff, and even dampen seismic waves from earthquakes. But each of these functions requires a unique mechanical structure, making these materials great for specific tasks, but difficult to implement broadly.

But what if a material could contain within its structure, multiple functions and easily and autonomously switch between them?

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have developed a general framework to design reconfigurable metamaterials. The design strategy is scale independent, meaning it can be applied to everything from meter-scale architectures to reconfigurable nano-scale systems such as photonic crystals, waveguides and metamaterials to guide heat.

The research is published in Nature.

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Rocket River · Jan 20, 2017

eerie and nice

Rocket River

London'sBurning · Jan 21, 2017

Just from an aesthetic viewpoint it looks amazing never mind the applications.

PhiSlammaJamma · Jan 21, 2017

Americans couldn't move to the metric system, nor do we break down boxes before throwing into the trash, so complex box breakdown, not happening!

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[Science] How to design materials with reprogrammable shape and function

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