Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fiber Reinforced Concrete01:22

Fiber Reinforced Concrete

492
Fiber-reinforced concrete significantly enhances the structural and nonstructural properties of traditional concrete by incorporating fibers like steel, glass, and polymers. These fibers, varying from natural ones such as sisal and cellulose to manufactured ones like polypropylene and Kevlar, are mixed into hydraulic cement with aggregates. Steel fibers, often preferred for their robustness, contribute to improved ductility, toughness, and post-cracking performance. The concrete is classified...
492
Normal Strain under Axial Loading01:20

Normal Strain under Axial Loading

1.4K
Normal strain under axial loading is an important concept in the field of mechanics of materials. Axial loading implies the application of a force along the axis of a material, like a column or bar. This force can either compress or stretch the material. In the context of axial loading, normal strain is the deformation experienced by the material in the direction of the loading force. It's calculated as the change in length divided by the original length of the material. This unitless ratio...
1.4K
Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:12

Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments

6.5K
The cytoskeleton is a complex dynamic structure performing varied functions based on cellular requirements. The adaptability of the individual filaments in the cytoskeleton determines their ability to perform various functions within the cell. It can undergo rapid reorganization during processes like cell division or remain stable for several hours as in the interphase. The adaptability of these filaments depends on stringent regulatory mechanisms. The microfilament and microtubules of the...
6.5K
Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses01:20

Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses

582
As discussed in previous lessons, strain energy in a material is the energy stored when it is elastically deformed, a concept crucial in materials science and mechanical engineering. This energy results from the internal work done against the cohesive forces within the material. When a material undergoes shearing stress and corresponding shearing strain, the strain energy density, which is the energy stored per unit volume, is calculated. Within the elastic limit, where the stress is...
582
Fibrous Proteins00:55

Fibrous Proteins

5.0K
Fibrous proteins are either long and narrow proteins or assemble to form long and thin structures. They contain repetitive units and usually consist of either alpha helices or beta sheets and, in rare cases, a mix of both. The amino acids in the primary structure often consist of repeating amino acid sequences. The role of fibrous proteins is primarily structural. Many are located in the extracellular matrix and are present in connective tissues to impart strength and joint mobility. They are...
5.0K
Strain and Elastic Modulus01:15

Strain and Elastic Modulus

9.2K
The quantity that describes the deformation of a body under stress is known as strain. Strain is given as a fractional change in either length, volume, or geometry under tensile, volume (also known as bulk), or shear stress, respectively, and is a dimensionless quantity. The strain experienced by a body under tensile or compressive stress is called tensile or compressive strain, respectively. In contrast, the strain experienced under bulk stress and shear stress is known as volume and shear...
9.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Advances in Biomimetics: Patents from Nature.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Soft Robots Powered by Sustainable Energy.

Chemical reviews·2026
Same author

Upconverting mixed emitter nanocomposites as sensitive luminescent thermometers within plant-inspired artificial fliers.

Nanoscale·2026
Same author

Stereotypical force patterns of the elephant trunk in planar reaching movements.

iScience·2026
Same author

Aerodynamic performance of autorotating seeds: scaling by size.

Bioinspiration & biomimetics·2026
Same author

Tip-Growing Robots: Design, Theory, Application.

IEEE transactions on robotics : a publication of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society·2026
Same journal

Generating Unconventional Spin-Orbit Torques With Patterned Phase Gradients in Tungsten Thin Films.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same journal

An In Situ H<sub>2</sub>S-Activated Plasmonic Nanozyme for Near-Infrared II Photo-Thermoelectric Catalytic Therapy.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same journal

A Recyclable and Sustainable Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Electrolyte for Electrochromic Devices.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same journal

Perovskite Heterostructures for Optoelectronic Applications.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same journal

Light-Written Nonvolatile Polarization via Defect-Engineered Charge Trapping.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same journal

Nucleation-Controlled Synthesis and a Unified Descriptor for Rational Interlayer Design of Vanadium-Oxide Cathodes toward High-Performance Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Disentangling High Strength Copolymer Aramid Fibers to Enable the Determination of Their Mechanical Properties
06:02

Disentangling High Strength Copolymer Aramid Fibers to Enable the Determination of Their Mechanical Properties

Published on: September 1, 2018

7.5K

Variable Stiffness Fiber with Self-Healing Capability.

Alice Tonazzini1, Stefano Mintchev1, Bryan Schubert1

  • 1Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 1, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel variable stiffness fiber that dramatically softens and deforms when heated. This adaptable material exhibits self-healing and versatile bonding capabilities for advanced applications.

Keywords:
low melting point alloysself-healingsoft actuatorsvariable stiffnesswearable devices

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers
08:28

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers

Published on: September 4, 2017

10.6K
Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape
07:38

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Published on: January 8, 2014

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Disentangling High Strength Copolymer Aramid Fibers to Enable the Determination of Their Mechanical Properties
06:02

Disentangling High Strength Copolymer Aramid Fibers to Enable the Determination of Their Mechanical Properties

Published on: September 1, 2018

7.5K
Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers
08:28

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers

Published on: September 4, 2017

10.6K
Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape
07:38

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Published on: January 8, 2014

9.3K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Robotics
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Developing materials with tunable mechanical properties is crucial for advanced engineering.
  • Existing soft materials often lack robust mechanical integrity or adaptability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize a novel variable stiffness fiber.
  • To demonstrate the material's potential in diverse applications through prototyping.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a fiber composite using silicone and low melting point alloys.
  • Thermal analysis to determine phase transition temperatures and stiffness changes.
  • Mechanical testing to quantify softness and deformability.
  • Prototyping of a drone, wearable cast, and actuator.

Main Results:

  • The fiber exhibits a >700-fold increase in softness and >400-fold increase in deformability above 62 °C.
  • Demonstrated remarkable self-healing properties.
  • Successfully integrated into functional prototypes including a drone, cast, and actuator.

Conclusions:

  • The variable stiffness fiber offers a unique combination of tunable mechanics, self-healing, and processability.
  • This material presents significant potential for soft robotics, wearable devices, and adaptive structures.