Study: New reusable shock absorber shows promise in lab tests

Tech Xplore reported on research led by Jongmin Shim on a reusable shock absorber that has shown promise in lab tests and could have far-reaching applications in transportation safety.

“Our structure is unique in that it enables impact energy to detour around the vehicle. It's comprised of one column with a flange at each end. These flanges have hinges that allow the normally rigid column to snap out of place, which converts external energy into kinetic energy of the disconnected column, eventually protecting the vehicle,”  said Shim, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.

Read the story here. The story also appeared in Technology.org.