Nanostructured metamaterials have shown a lot of promise in what they can do in the lab, but often have fatal stress concentration factors that limit their applications. Researchers have now found a strong, lightweight nanostructured carbon. [via BGR]
Using a multi-objective Bayesian optimization (MBO) algorithm trained on finite element analysis (FEA) datasets to identify the best candidate nanostructures, the researchers then brought the theoretical material to life with 2 photon polymerization (2PP) photolithography. The resulting “carbon nanolattices achieve the compressive strength of carbon steels (180–360 MPa) with the density of Styrofoam (125–215 kg m−3) which exceeds the specific strengths of equivalent low-density materials by over an order of magnitude.”
While you probably shouldn’t start getting investors for your space elevator startup just yet, lighter materials like this are promising for a lot of applications, most notably more conventional aviation where fuel (or energy) prices are a big constraint on operations. As with any lab results, more work is needed until we see this in the real world, but it is nice to know that superalloys and composites aren’t the end of the road for strong and lightweight materials.
We’ve seen AI help identify battery materials already and this seems to be one avenue where generative AI isn’t just about making embarrassing photos or making us less intelligent.
Is it compressive strength needed for a space elevator to become viable or tensile strength?
I believe I remember it being tensile strength with a counter weight being used in a slightly higher orbit than geosynchronous to provide the force needed to keep the cable taut.
you’re right, it’s entirely tensile strength you need for a space elevator in theory. My understanding is that lattice or truss structures are great for stiffness, buckling resistance, and conpressive strength, but that configuration doesn’t really do much for tensile strength. tensile strength pretty much adds, so you prrtty much just bundle a bunch of high strength fibers together to get optimal tensile. i.e. a bundle of aligned carbon fiber or carbon nanotubes or such.
very cool research, but the space elevator example is just the hackaday writer shoehorning a (probably required) article link into the article.
hey AI, I need a new roof for the shed I store my riding mower in, chop chop!
Did AI really find it, or is it just the fact that we can run simulations and speculative solutions millions of times faster and pick out the likely candidates more quickly?
A real AI might just want to play golf, or kick back by the pool, instead of being forced to work on problems that only affect meatbags.
TIL I’m actually an AI.