图片来源：Shelby Kardell
弹性波的例子包括在空气中传播的声波，地震中的冲击波或当物体破坏水体时产生的涟漪。弹性波具有通过材料或表面的能力，而不会导致物质结构的任何持久变化。
Previously, researchers have used materials such as rubber and metal in order to bend and control waves effectively. Guoliang Huang, along with other researchers at the University of Missouri, developed a single sheet material using steel and lasers to engrave geometric microstructure patterns (chiral) that are irregular to their mirror images.
“控制和操纵次波长声学和弹性波的方法被证明是难以捉摸和困难的；但是，潜在的应用（一旦方法是完善的）是巨大的。”
Guoliang Huang, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering at University of Missouri
这种结构材料能够控制弹性波或声波的增加，并且是第一种由单个成分制成的材料。它还提供了巨大的设计可能性，例如超级成像设备和增强的宽带信号。
The researchers are planning to introduce elements that can be controlled easily and which could ultimately be used in a wide range of applications and fields.
Huang went on to say:“我们的团队开发了一种材料，如果用于制造新设备，则可以感知声音和弹性波。通过操纵这些波浪为了我们的优势，我们将有能力创造能够极大地使社会受益的材料 - 从弹性披肩等军事增强中进行成像 - 这种可能性确实是无尽的。”亚博网站下载
图片来源：Guoliang Huang
“In its current state, the metal is a passive material, meaning we need to introduce other elements that will help us control the elastic waves we send to it. We're going to make this material much more active by integrating smart materials like microchips that are controllable. This will give us the ability to effectively 'tune in' to any elastic sound or elastic wave frequency and generate the responses we'd like; this manipulation gives us the means to control how it reacts to what's surrounding it,”said Guoliang Huang.
The material could lead to many applications such as in medical and acoustic hearing devices, super-resolution sensors and a ‘super lens’ which could considerably improve super-imaging devices, all due to the possibility of directly focusing elastic waves.