A simple thought experiment: would you prefer to collide with a brick wall or a mattress? For most, the answer is clear. A brick wall, given its hardness, is inept at cushioning impacts or damping vibrations, unlike the mattress, whose softness excels in these tasks. However, material science seeks a blend of both these properties.
The ideal material would effectively dissipate vibrations while maintaining a level of stiffness robust enough to resist substantial pressure. A research group at the UvA Institute of Physics has successfully devised a way to engineer materials encapsulating these contrasting characteristics.
Generally, materials exhibit either stiffness or good vibration absorption – rarely both. Yet, the ability to develop materials embodying both qualities opens up a plethora of possibilities, spanning from nanoscale designs to aerospace engineering.
The rubber metamaterial sample, topped with a weight, undergoes varying frequencies of excitation. As the excitation increases, the sample buckles more noticeably at lower frequencies. Image credit: University of Amsterdam
Table of Contents
The Secret Lies in Buckling
The University of Amsterdam research team has ingeniously developed a method to produce materials that are both stiff and effective at damping vibrations while maintaining a low weight.
David Dykstra, the publication’s lead author, elaborates, “Our breakthrough relied on utilizing materials that buckle, akin to thin metal sheets. When assembled intelligently, structures crafted from such buckled sheets excel at absorbing vibrations while retaining much of the original material’s stiffness. Furthermore, as these sheets can be relatively thin, the resultant material remains comparatively lightweight.”
The image (at the article’s start) displays a sample material that employs this metal sheet buckling technique to achieve the sought-after combination of properties.
The metal metamaterial sample, with a mass on top, undergoes excitations at increasing and then decreasing frequencies. A larger excitation causes the sample to buckle more prominently at lower frequencies. Image credit: University of Amsterdam
A Multitude of Applications Await
In-depth research into these buckled materials revealed their impressive amalgamation of stiffness and vibration-damping capabilities. Given that no known materials exhibit this sought-after combination, these newly developed lab-engineered metamaterials have immense potential for a diverse array of applications across various scales.
Potential usage spans from meter-sized applications (such as aerospace, automotive, and many other civil designs) to microscopic scales (including microscopes or nanolithography).
Dykstra affirms, “We humans are builders by nature – of both tiny and massive structures – and we consistently strive for lightweight constructions. With materials that are both stiff and adept at absorbing shocks, we can enhance existing designs and make many new ones feasible. The possibilities truly are endless!”
Reference: “Buckling Metamaterials for Extreme Vibration Damping” by David M.J. Dykstra, Coen Lenting, Alexandre Masurier, and Corentin Coulais, published on 18 May 2023, in Advanced Materials.
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301747
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Buckling Metamaterials
What is the main discovery that the research team at the UvA Institute of Physics has made?
The research team has developed a new class of materials, known as buckling metamaterials, that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations while also being lightweight. This unique combination of properties is rare in existing materials.
What is the significance of the stiffness and vibration absorption properties in materials?
These properties are critical in various fields of application. Stiffness is important for the material to resist deformation under pressure, while vibration absorption is vital in damping shocks or impacts. This combination is desired in many areas from nanoscale designs to aerospace engineering.
How have the researchers achieved both stiffness and vibration absorption in the materials?
The researchers used materials that buckle, like thin metal sheets. When assembled in a specific way, these buckled sheets become great absorbers of vibrations while retaining a lot of the stiffness of the original material. Furthermore, as these sheets can be thin, the resultant material remains relatively lightweight.
What are some of the potential applications of these new buckling metamaterials?
These new metamaterials could be used in a wide range of scales and applications. On a larger scale, they could be used in aerospace and automotive applications and other civil designs. On a smaller scale, they could find usage in microscopes and nanolithography. The lightweight nature of these materials makes them particularly attractive for all such applications.
Who is the lead author of the publication detailing this discovery?
David Dykstra is the lead author of the publication titled “Buckling Metamaterials for Extreme Vibration Damping,” which was published in Advanced Materials.
More about Buckling Metamaterials
- Advanced Materials Journal
- University of Amsterdam Institute of Physics
- Overview of Metamaterials
- Introduction to Material Science
