Negative stiffness materials – materials that become shorter when under tension – can display extreme behaviour and are unstable in isolation. Close relatives are negative Poisson’s ratio (auxetic) materials, which expand width-wise when stretched along their length. These unusual materials have significant potential as vibration dampers, impact protectors, acoustic cloaks and have other applications in transport, healthcare and sport. This talk will review progress around these materials and applications.

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About the presenter

Professor Andrew Alderson undertakes highly collaborative interdisciplinary research into auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) and other unusual 'negative' materials. He is a keen communicator of science and his award-winning research has featured in the Science Museum and on BBC TV and Radio.

Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering is brought to you by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University and celebrates British Science Week (find out more at www.britishscienceweek.org).

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