Non-cuttable material created through local resonance and strain rate effects.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Bio-inspired Design

Background:

• Developing materials with high deformability and resistance to dynamic loads is challenging.
• Existing security materials often lack flexibility or are easily defeated by advanced tools.
• Bio-inspired designs offer novel solutions for material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a new architected material combining high deformability with ultra-resistance to dynamic point loads.
• To investigate the mechanisms behind the material's resistance to various cutting tools.
• To explore a new design paradigm for metamorphic materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bio-inspired metallic cellular structure with embedded ceramic segments.
• Testing material resistance against angle grinder, power drill, and waterjet cutter.
• Analysis of material response through local resonance and abrasive interface mechanisms.

Main Results:

• The material is non-cuttable by angle grinder and power drill, despite having only 15% steel density.
• Extreme hardness achieved through local resonance and high-frequency vibrations at the interface.
• Effective resistance against waterjet cutters due to ceramic sphere geometry and fragmentation.

Conclusions:

• The novel material design shifts from static resistance to dynamic interactions for enhanced protection.
• The bio-inspired architecture provides a new paradigm for developing metamorphic materials.
• This approach could inspire future materials with pre-programmed mechanisms across multiple length scales.