Shapeability
Shapeability is the property of a material, structure, or system that describes its capacity to be shaped, formed, or reconfigured into a desired geometry while maintaining functional performance. In engineering contexts, it encompasses both the plastic forming of materials and the ability of a design to adapt its shape in response to functional requirements or stimuli. The term is often used interchangeable with formability, ductility, or workability in metals, polymers, and composites, but can also denote the intentional reconfiguration of an object in adaptive or smart systems.
In materials science, shapeability depends on intrinsic properties such as ductility, strain hardening, and brittleness, as
Applications span metal forming, additive manufacturing, soft robotics, morphing aerospace structures, adaptive architecture, and user-interface hardware
Challenges include anisotropy, process-induced defects, temperature sensitivity, and degradation under cycling. Shapeability remains a broad, interdisciplinary