Crumple Theory: We Can Learn a Lot From How Paper Crumples
" " Learning how materials react when compressed in "geometric frustration" is behind the science of crumple theory, which aids in the design of all kinds of everyday products and materials. Paul Taylor/Getty Images What do a sheet of paper being crushed into a ball and tossed into a wastebasket, the front end of a car deforming in a crash, and the Earth's crust gradually forming mountains over millions of years all have in common? They're all undergoing a physical process called crumpling, which occurs when a relatively thin sheet of material — one with a thickness that's much less t...
Source: howstuffworks.com