Seminar of Physics of Wrocław University of Technology

Different methods of achieving control over the behavior of multiscale mechanical metamaterials

dr hab. Krzysztof Dudek, prof. UZ

Instytut Fizyki, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski

Mechanical metamaterials are a class of structures capable of exhibiting counterintuitive mechanical properties, such as a negative Poisson’s ratio or negative thermal expansion, primarily as a result of their structural design. Over the years, these systems have attracted considerable attention from researchers in materials science, owing to their potential applications across a wide range of industries, from biomedical devices and sports equipment to effective soundproofing materials. However, despite their numerous advantages over conventional materials, mechanical metamaterials often share a common limitation: their mechanical properties typically cannot be significantly altered without reconstructing the system. In this presentation, it will demonstrate how this challenge can be addressed through various approaches, including hierarchical structural design and the application of magnetic fields. It will also be discussed how such control over the system’s behavior can be achieved across different length scales.