This book discusses bulk solids that derive their mechanical properties
not from those of their base materials, but from their designed
microstructures. Focusing on the negative mechanical properties, it
addresses topics that reveal the counter-intuitive nature of solids,
specifically the negativity of properties that are commonly positive,
such as negative bulk modulus, negative compressibility, negative
hygroexpansion, negative thermal expansion, negative stiffness phase,
and negative Poisson's ratio. These topics are significant not only due
to the curiosity they have sparked, but also because of the possibility
of designing materials and structures that can behave in ways that are
not normally expected in conventional solids, and as such, of materials
that can outperform solids and structures made from conventional
materials.
The book includes illustrations to facilitate learning, and, where
appropriate, reference tables. The presentation is didactic, starting
with simple cases, followed by increasingly complex ones. It provides a
solid foundation for graduate students, and a valuable resource for
practicing materials engineers seeking to develop novel materials
through the judicious design of microstructures and their corresponding
mechanisms.