As engineers, we tend to take materials for granted. In most engineering projects materials are \u201ca given\u201d, defined at the start of the design process, and rarely changed throughout it. We are prepared to tweak every single geometric parameter in the search for optimal engineering solutions, but materials are treated as a constraint rather than a degree of freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, every significant advance in human civilization<\/a> has been driven by revolutionary (rather evolutionary) developments in material science. As a species, we measure our ancient history not in linguistic, cultural, or economic terms, but through developments in materials technology (from the stone age to the silicon age and beyond<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until now engineering and materials science have largely been separate (although interconnected) disciplines. Co-operation has always been limited by the fact that, although the bulk of engineering design has moved towards CAE simulation, developing novel materials is time-consuming, difficult and expensive, and performed in a lab rather than on a computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The recent development of \u201cdigital materials\u201d that can be designed, analyzed and optimized via simulation changes this paradigm forever and unlocks endless possibilities for technological and cultural development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this edition of the Engineering Innovation Podcast, I\u2019m joined by material scientist Raphael Stargrove<\/a> (VP of Product Strategy at Citrine Informatics<\/a>) as we answer the question \u201cWhat are digital twins made from?\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n