Dr. Mohamed ElGawady, professor and interim department chair of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, and Dr. Yasser Darwish, a 2021 Ph.D. graduate in civil engineering, have been granted a U.S. patent for an impact protection solution that enhances the resilience of critical structures, mitigating damage from vehicular collisions, extreme forces and accidental impacts. The patent title is “Energy Dissipation Using Negative Stiffness Shells.”

By improving safety and cost efficiency in infrastructure maintenance, this technology will help extend the service life of bridges and essential assets.
Leveraging advanced mechanics applications, their approach strengthens structural integrity, reduces repair costs, and ensures long-term durability against unexpected impact events. Beyond infrastructure, this technology can also be used as a liner in helmets, offering superior shock absorption for head protection. Additionally, it has potential applications in safeguarding critical nuclear components and protecting artwork from impact damage, demonstrating its broad impact in engineering and preservation.