Laser based deformation may lead to self optimized aircraft wings

Due to advances in materials science by Stockholm researchers, changing the shape during flight to better handle airflow passing through its aircraft wings may be imminent. The trick involves the melting and drilling capabilities of lasers.

Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden conducted experiments on paraffin. Using the 2D version of the material, they were able to use a laser to poke small holes in the wax and slowly melt it to guide the liquid paraffin to the desired position, thanks to the tilting stage. The effect is laser-induced shape changes that occur during several cycles of laser pulses and tilt of the stage.

"In each cycle, everything only moves by a few tens of micrometers," said co-author Wuter van der Wijngaart of the study. It can reshape objects, allowing them to pass through narrow gaps and reassemble them into any target shape. This allows for unrestricted real-time creation of tools and other objects without the need to introduce additional materials.

Although this breakthrough was achieved using 2D materials, researchers suggest that these findings will be translated into 3D materials. They say such breakthroughs may lead to aircraft wings being able to self modify to optimize drag, cars becoming more aerodynamic in flight, and even creating office spaces with on-demand seats.
In this study, the process of material remodeling is called phase change pumping.

"By melting a portion of an object with a hot spot, a liquid region is formed inside the material," the researchers explained in a research report published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

They added, "The movement of hot spots inside an object generates a melting front, and the laser heats the material above the melting point and freezes the front, causing heat loss to the surrounding environment and cooling the material below the freezing point." Most materials have a decrease in density during the melting process, and an increase in density during the freezing process, causing the material to flow from the melting front to the liquid region at the freezing front. "

Although the experiments involved in this specific study introduce laser heat into the external environment, researchers suggest that embedding a heat source in the material may lead to more automated shape transformation in practical applications.

Source: Laser Net