A Johns Hopkins civil engineer has developed a computational tool that predicts how fire affects structures, leading to more resilient designs and enhanced public safety. As wildfires threaten densely populated areas worldwide with increasing frequency and intensity, Thomas Gernay, an associate professor in civil and systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University is … [Read more...] about Fire-safety engineering delivers lifesaving value
Materials
MIT engineers create metamaterial that is both strong and stretchy
MIT engineers have found a way to fabricate a metamaterial that is both strong and stretchy. The base material is typically highly rigid and brittle, but by printing it in precise, intricate patterns it can be made to form a structure that is both strong and flexible. Metamaterials are synthetic materials with microscopic structures that give the overall material exceptional … [Read more...] about MIT engineers create metamaterial that is both strong and stretchy
New 3D-printing method enables colour-changing, stress-responsive materials
A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Duke University, University of California Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a cutting-edge method to 3D-print cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), opening the door to dynamic, colour-changing materials that can respond to mechanical … [Read more...] about New 3D-printing method enables colour-changing, stress-responsive materials
Physical cloaking works like a disappearing act for structural defects
A team of engineers from Princeton University and the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a technique that can maintain the structural integrity around openings by essentially hiding them from the surrounding forces. Whether designing a window in an airliner or a cable conduit for an engine, manufacturers devote a lot of effort to reinforcing openings for … [Read more...] about Physical cloaking works like a disappearing act for structural defects
UCLA breakthrough dramatically extends fuel cell lifespan
Researchers at UCLA have made a breakthrough that could dramatically extend the lifespan of hydrogen fuel cells, making them a more viable clean energy source that can help bring sustainable, long-haul trucking closer to reality. For trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that must travel long distances without frequent, time-consuming charging stops, batteries often fall short. … [Read more...] about UCLA breakthrough dramatically extends fuel cell lifespan