Engineers have developed a new metal foam that absorbs kinetic energy so effectively it can reduce the severity of a car crash by 48%. 🚗
This material is built to sit inside a vehicle’s front rails. When a collision happens, the foam deforms, slowing down the impact forces before they reach the passengers. It provides a way to increase safety without the typical downsides of adding heavy armor or extra bracing.
➖ It keeps the vehicle's total weight low.
➖ It preserves fuel economy and battery range.
➖ It functions without requiring major changes to the overall frame design.
Traditional steel rails are rigid and heavy, meaning they often fail to dissipate energy as gracefully as this lightweight, porous foam does. It is a smart way to make vehicles safer without asking the driver to sacrifice efficiency.
Physics doing the heavy lifting.
#safety #innovation #automotive
Interesting Engineering
Subscribe
