Metamaterial undermines 250-year-old construction principles
Thursday, July 23, 2015 - 07:40
in Physics & Chemistry
Researchers have demonstrated how a rubber beam subjected to less pressure bends faster. This behaviour defies expectations and appears to undermine centuries-old bending laws. The beam is made from a metamaterial, which gives it the name "metabeam." Metamaterials have special properties that do not occur in nature. By providing the metabeam with a carefully chosen pattern of small holes, the researchers induced the strange behaviour. They published their work on 21 July online in Physical Review Letters.