Undergraduates at Case Western University recently
competed in a material science engineering project to solve a common problem
using material science. Non-Newtonian fluids have different viscous properties
depending on the forces acting on them, one example being corn starch mixed
with water. This allows the fluid to flow into a pothole and fill it
completely, while also acting like a solid when a car passes over it.
This is a great application for a shear-thickening, non-newtonian fluid. It's one of those simple, elegant solutions that surprises me someone has't put it into practice sooner!
ReplyDeleteI remember playing with that cornstarch and water mix when I was younger- very cool.
The following is a link to an article about another great application for non-newtonian fluids- body armor:
http://voices.yahoo.com/armorproof-custard-stopping-bullets-6406876.html
Now that is a very clever idea. The only problem I see is theft. In order for the bags to be reusable they need to be able to remove them, and if you're able to remove them you can count on someone trying to take them. Especially something worth so much money. They need to come up with some way to attach the bags so that people can't take them, but still allows them to re-use them.
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