Multimedia Gallery
Origami-inspired material designed to soften impact
University of Washington researchers have developed a novel solution to reduce the force of an impact. Inspired by the paper folding art of origami, the team created a paper model of a metamaterial that uses "folding creases" to soften impact forces and instead promote forces that relax stresses in the chain. A material like this has potential applications in spacecraft, cars and beyond.
Credit: University of Washington
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