Design, Fabrication, and Applications of Periodic and Hierarchical Mechanical Metamaterials

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure.

Mechanical metamaterials, as a subset of engineered architected materials, have consistently expanded the performance envelope of traditional materials and structural systems. Their advancement not only introduces exceptional mechanical characteristics but also provides a transformative perspective and impetus for breakthroughs in materials science and mechanical engineering.

Historically, materials research has adhered to a linear workflow: novel materials are synthesised, their microstructures are characterised, properties are evaluated, and potential applications are subsequently investigated. Within this framework, material design, manufacturing, and application are typically regarded as discrete, sequential phases. In contrast, the unique properties and functionalities of mechanical metamaterials are intrinsically linked to their multiscale architectures, rendering this compartmentalisation obsolete. The interdependence of structural design, fabrication methodologies, and functional performance is now fundamentally intertwined. For instance, the design of metamaterials must account for the limitations and capabilities of advanced manufacturing technologies; emerging application requirements frequently drive the pursuit of unconventional mechanical responses; and realising these functionalities often necessitates inverse design methodologies grounded in mechanical theory. Collectively, these developments are propelling the discipline toward a new research paradigm: mechano-materials—where material behaviour is actively engineered or programmed through the integration of mechanical principles, structural design, and fabrication processes.

This Collection seeks to showcase recent progress and address the challenges arising within this shifting paradigm. It aims to clarify the synergistic relationships among design, fabrication, properties, and functionalities, and to investigate how holistic strategies can enable groundbreaking applications across diverse fields.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Artificial intelligence-enabled design of periodic, hierarchical, and architected material systems
• Advanced additive manufacturing techniques for micro/nanomaterials, smart materials, and sustainable materials
• Experimental and computational analysis of mechanical properties
• Programmable, reconfigurable, and morphing metamaterials
• Innovative applications in biomedical engineering, soft robotics, microrobotics, embodied intelligence, and related domains