Abstract:
Meta-materials can achieve new properties thanks to precisely engineering the architecture of internal structures (i.e. meta-structuring) to deliberately control/interact with external signals such as electromagnetic or elastic waves. However, relying solely on the meta-structuring limits possibilities in unlocking new properties; in particular for mechanical metamaterials, it can compromise the mechanical performance. In contrast, the metallurgical approach focuses on engineering the natural crystals’ intrinsic microstructure, allowing us to develop metallic alloys with excellent properties and mechanical performance beyond what can be obtained by the alloy composition.
Recent advances in additive manufacturing (as known as 3D printing) enable precisely structuring both the metallurgical features (from the chemical composition to phases and crystallographic orientations) and internal physical structures (i.e. meta-structures) to specific locations, providing opportunities to go beyond the meta-structuring. In this talk, I will present innovative ways that combine the meta-structuring, metallurgical microstructuring and additive manufacturing together to create a new class of meta-materials of self-similar structures with possibilities of programming the strength, toughness and shape-morphing. The latest functionality enables self-optimisation in response to external conditions.