Earthquake resistance to be improved by new materials

‘Metamaterials’ have unusual properties not seen in natural material

The University of Liverpool is conducting research into materials which could help to divert the waves associated with earthquakes around buildings.

As part of a £2.5 million project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the University will mathematically model ‘metamaterials’.  These have unusual properties not seen in natural material, for example light entering a metamaterial slab can be bent in the opposite direction to that expected.

Scientists based at Imperial College London, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moore’s Universities will work on the five year study.

The researchers from the University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences will look at the constraints of fabrication methods and take those into account to develop an optimum structure. By the end of the research scientists will develop proof of concepts, which will then go on to the next stage of implementation.

Find out more about studying mathematics at Liverpool on the University’s Study pages.