inspired metal could enable morphing aircraft wings
Interesting Engineering••technology
Key Points:
- Researchers at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics have developed a nature-inspired active metal metamaterial capable of smooth shape changes, potentially enabling shape-shifting aircraft wings.
- The material, made from a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy using precise laser powder bed fusion 3D printing, is lightweight, durable, flexible, and can recover over 96% of its original shape after deformation.
- Inspired by the wavy epidermal cell structure of the succulent plant Portulaca oleracea seedcoat, the metal network honeycomb design allows the material to stretch up to 38% before fracturing while withstanding aerodynamic forces.
- Prototype wing sections made from this material successfully morphed between −25° and
