Prof. Douglas Holmes works on “slender structures”
What can engineers learn from observing the physics of a slinky? The popular toy is just one example of an object that inspired BU professor Douglas Holmes (ME, MSE) to find ways to harness instability for advanced functions. According to Prof. Holmes, these “slender structures”- next generation materials that bend or warp – will involve gels, smart fabrics, and adaptable geometry, and could be the key to the next generation of technologies, from soft robots to smart needles.