An international team led by engineers from the University of Glasgow has made a breakthrough in developing and designing novel auxetic structures using high-performance engineering plastics that could lead to applications in everything from medical implants to impact-resistant vehicle structures. The research showcases how additive manufacturing can be used to create finely … [Read more...] about New smart plastics could monitor their own condition in real time
Materials
Elephant robot demonstrates bio-inspired 3D-printing technology
A team of researchers in the School of Engineering at the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has developed an innovative lattice structure that combines the diversity of biological tissues with robotic control and precision. The lattice, made of a simple foam material, is composed of individual units (cells) that can be programmed to have different shapes and … [Read more...] about Elephant robot demonstrates bio-inspired 3D-printing technology
AI-created materials could reduce your energy bill
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the National University of Singapore and Umea University in Sweden have used machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop new materials known as thermal meta-emitters that could, among other things, keep houses cooler and reduce energy bills. The researchers developed more than … [Read more...] about AI-created materials could reduce your energy bill
New fuel cell can stabilise power grid by making and storing energy
A team of engineers at West Virginia University (WVU) has designed and successfully tested a fuel cell that can switch between storing or making electricity and also generate hydrogen from water. Unlike similar technologies, the fuel cell can withstand the heat and steam generated when running at an industrial scale for long periods at high power. Additionally, it addresses the … [Read more...] about New fuel cell can stabilise power grid by making and storing energy
Engineers shake tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have shaken the tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator. The ten-storey, 30-metre structure was subjected to simulations of real earthquakes, including the 6.9-magnitude, 1989 Loma Prieta temblor, as part of an effort to determine if height limits for buildings made of cold-formed steel could be … [Read more...] about Engineers shake tallest steel-framed building ever tested on an earthquake simulator