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Dynamically evolving the design of metals in response to stress like aircraft wing that get stronger

Friday, November 23, 2012 16:52

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From NextBigFuture.com

Cars that change color at the push of a button; metals that strengthen with use; buildings that harness energy from the wind … research into designing structural materials that are both responsive and functional is shifting such ideas from the realm of fantasy to reality.

Associate Professor Christopher Hutchinson of the Department of Materials Engineering at Monash University foresees a future in which reimagined structural materials would have multi-functional roles.

In practice, such materials would mean that aircraft wings, for example, which currently develop metal fatigue because of constant vibration, would instead grow stronger, remaining safe for much longer.