Bakhtiyar Orazbayev, Assistant Professor at the School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, together with his team, has been awarded a research grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan!
Their project, “Time-Varying Multifunctional Metamaterials (TVM³): Active Control of Elastic Waves with Non-Hermitian Dynamics,” will advance cutting-edge research in the field of metamaterials and wave dynamics.
The research team is developing a new class of time-varying mechanical metamaterials that actively tune their properties to direct energy, block unwanted noise and vibration, and sense tiny changes in their environment. In collaboration with Prof. Zhanat Kappassov (robotics), their team will design and test structures that guide the flow of energy from a source to a receiver, measure how active control affects performance, and explore one-way (nonreciprocal) transmission for better efficiency. They will also investigate new approaches for high-sensitivity sensing.
Impact: This project will demonstrate how new materials can lead to quieter buildings, stronger infrastructure, more precise instruments, and smoother robotics—while training students and working with partners in Kazakhstan to explore real-world applications.
Why it matters
Why it matters
- Smarter noise and vibration control that can adjust in real time
- One-way pathways for sound and vibration to keep disturbance from spreading
- Sensitive detection of small changes that can signal wear or faults
- Easy-to-understand performance summaries to guide real-world use
- Benefits of robotics with steadier platforms and cleaner signals
- Hands-on student training and collaboration with industry in Kazakhstan
Stay tuned for more updates!