Mechanical metamaterials with adaptive stiffness

Overview

The topic is interdisciplinary, not yet externally funded (future fellowship application on the same subject is under consideration)

Research engagement

CAD Design, Finite Element Analysis, 3D printing, Mechanical Testing

Research activities

CAD Design, 3D printing, Mechanical Testing

Research skills

Solidworks, ANSYS, 3D printing

Outcomes

Prototypes, research publication

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

GP-O block

Additional information

Mechanical metamaterials are engineered structures whose properties are governed not just by the material itself, but by the geometry of their internal architecture. While these materials can achieve remarkable behaviours, their properties are typically fixed once fabricated. What if we could reprogram them after manufacture?

This project explores next-generation adaptive metamaterials that can actively change their internal structure – and therefore their mechanical properties – on demand. By integrating principles from machine design, mechanics, and materials engineering, we investigate how to tune both the global stiffness and local load distribution within a material after fabrication. In particular, we draw on familiar machine design concepts – gears, pulleys, cams, and chains – and embed these mechanisms within the material’s internal architecture, enabling controlled motion and reconfiguration that directly adjusts stiffness and load paths.

Such capability opens the door to transformative applications:

• Smart wearable systems and support surfaces (such as support cushions or mattresses) that adapt in real time to redistribute pressure and help prevent conditions such as pressure sores
• Robotic and aerospace structures that dynamically redistribute loads to maximise efficiency and performance
• Impact protection systems that concentrate stiffness and strength only where needed, reducing overall weight while maintaining safety

You will work at the interface of theory and experimentation, combining:

• Computational modelling (e.g., finite element analysis)
• Advanced manufacturing (3D printing of architected materials)
• Mechanical testing and performance validation

Key research questions are tightly linked to these applications:

How can adaptive metamaterials intelligently redistribute loads to alleviate localised stress concentrations, such as those that cause pressure sores in support systems? How can embedded mechanisms (e.g., gear- and cam-inspired architectures) enable real-time stiffness reconfiguration for changing demands in robotics and aerospace? And ultimately, how much weight can be saved by activating load-bearing components only where needed, without compromising performance or safety?

This project is ideal for students interested in mechanics, robotics, materials, manufacturing, and design, and offers the opportunity to contribute to a rapidly emerging field shaping the future of smart engineering systems.

Keywords

• Mechanical metamaterials
• Adaptive properties
• Machine design

Contact

Mohammad Mirkhalaf

0451181168

mohammad.mirkhalaf@qut.edu.au