Metamaterial Changes Stiffness

Metamaterials are manmade substances that derive their properties from their structure rather than their base materials, and typically exhibit novel characteristics that do not occur in nature. Such is the case with a new material that can increase its surface stiffness by several orders of magnitude – from that of rubber to that of steel…and back again.

Researchers have demonstrated that the rigidity of the new material changes depending on the manner in which outside forces come into contact with it. When an object hits the edge, the geometry of the metamaterial, and therefore the way it responds to stress, are altered.

The applications for the new material are vast. For example, tires could be made to automatically adjust to road conditions; vehicles could be made safer and more impact- resistant by adjusting to absorb energy during a collision; someday it could even be used to construct reusable rocket systems.