Research summary
Traditionally made materials are shaped into permanent forms that can’t be changed later on, so they are limited to a single purpose. But technologies such as 3D printing have given us an unprecedented degree of control over the properties of some materials. This has led to the design of new metamaterials (artificial materials) that do not have these limits.
Dr. Damiano Pasini, Canada Research Chair in Mechanical Metamaterials, is pioneering a new class of 3D printed metamaterials that can dynamically reconfigure their shapes, allowing them to be multifunctional. Ultimately, he and his research team aim to develop morphable metamaterials that can pack and unpack, stretch and fold, and morph in place to multifunction. They are looking to contribute to a new generation of technologies for use in aerospace, civil engineering and robotics.