• Question: is it fun working with smart materials

    Asked by Tony Stark to Alessandra, Dimitrios, Niamh, Becky, Stacey, Tony on 20 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Stacey Marple

      Stacey Marple answered on 20 Jun 2017:

      I think so, the materials react to their surroundings. Like polymorphing materials which start out as granules but when heated turn into a material, the material can be re shaped lots of times. Useful in prototyping.

    • Photo: Niamh Ryall

      Niamh Ryall answered on 21 Jun 2017:

      My materials aren’t that smart. One way they are is that the current through them depends on the energy supplied to them, which can be a bit annoying really! They’re constantly changing whilst I measure them! But I still think working with materials is fun.

    • Photo: Alessandra Treviso

      Alessandra Treviso answered on 21 Jun 2017:

      I think it is. Composites are quite versatile and you can create very smart things. Sometimes they are temperamental and unpredictable and from the simulation point of view it can be a bit annoying. You are never sure you can capture certain characteristics and this add uncertainties. Engineers don’t like uncertainties very much.

Comments