Under the leadership of Corentin Coulais from the UvA Institute of Physics, a consortium has been awarded an Emerging Key Technology grant from NWO. The aim is to conduct research on the application of metamaterials for controlling fractures. Improved control of fracture phenomena at various scales can significantly benefit the fields of design and engineering. This innovative approach has the potential to enable controlled failure in structures, enhance durability, and improve energy absorption.
Coulais’ project is called ‘Steering Fracture with Metamaterials (FAME): Turning failure into function’. It aims to revolutionize the way we control fractures in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, protective equipment, and food design. By using specially designed metamaterials at the millimetre scale, the project seeks to steer fracture paths instead of preventing them. This innovative approach could lead to controlled failure in structures, increased durability, and improved energy absorption.
The exploratory research has been awarded within the Emerging Key Enabling Technologies (KIC) call. This call provides space for pioneering research around emerging key enabling technologies, focused on exploration and development of innovative ideas. In total, NWO is awarding over 9.4 million euros to nine innovative research projects.
The project will also collaborate with industry partners to create real-world prototypes that enhance safety in vehicles and aircrafts, enhance protective equipment and improve sensory experiences in food products. To this end, the project is co-funded by Unilever Innovation Center Wageningen, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre and TNO Defence, and will be carried out in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, Tata Steel R&D and TNO Foods.
Looking for partners to collaborate. Or looking for a certain expertise? Or would you like to locate your business in the Amsterdam Science Park? Drop us a line and we help you to find a perfect match.
Subscribe to our newsletter and we will keep you updated on all that our park has to offer. It will arrive to your inbox five times a year and you can unsubscribe easily at any time.
Subscribe