MIT Develops AI System to Design Superior Hybrid Materials Balancing Strength and Flexibility
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MIT researchers created a new system to computationally design materials that balance stiffness and toughness, discovering microstructures with superior mechanical performance.
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The system integrates physical experiments, physics-based simulations, and neural networks to navigate discrepancies between theoretical models and practical results.
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Key innovations include using evolutionary algorithms accelerated by neural networks to efficiently explore the design space and find optimal configurations.
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The team created and tested 3D printed samples, combining rigid and ductile materials at the microscopic level to strike the right balance of strength and flexibility.
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The automated, integrated system aims to advance materials science by optimizing the design process, minimizing human supervision while maximizing efficiency.