Projects in Mechanics
Mechanical metamaterials are rationally designed artificial materials that gain unprecedented mechanical properties from their structures and carefully engineered unit cells, rather than from the properties of their constitutive materials. Mechanical metamaterials have great potential application in smart devices, energy absorption, etc.
Programmable cellular metamaterials
Cellular materials are composites composed of solid and fluid phases. The cellular materials with auxetic properties offer a high-dimensional design space through their various geometric and mechanical parameters and an ideal platform to develop smart materials with shape-morphing and/or programmable properties. Their relatively regular geometries prompt the efficiency of their design and manufacturing process enhancing the feasibility of practical applications.
In this project, we investigate the programmable and automated design of cellular metamaterials and build the foundation for their applications in engineering and medicine.
Project leader: Z. Zhang
Status: ongoing
Damage tolerance in additively manufactured metals
This project is aimed at analyzing fatigue/damage tolerance properties of additively manufactured metallic parts in comparison with conventionally manufactured components.
Project leader: C. van der Last
Status: finished
Vibration attenuation in assemblies of particles
Particle damping is widely used to attenuate vibrations in gears and engines, heavy-duty compressors, airport wind towers, and various machine tools. When a structure filled with particles vibrates, the motion coupling and energy transfer between the container and the particles leads to collision and friction at contact points, thus dissipating the vibrational energy. This project will investigate particle-based vibration reduction for small-size particles.
Project leader: A. K. H. Saeed
Status: finished