Dear Colleagues,

The advancement in the designs of modern transportation vehicles like airplanes, ships, and automobiles, as well as the construction of tall buildings and blades, has resulted in a significant demand for structures that are lightweight but strong. The process of natural selection has led to the evolution of organisms with unique structures and functions, which can serve as a valuable source of inspiration for the creation of new lightweight and high-strength structures in the aforementioned fields, particularly with the utilization of additive manufacturing techniques. An example of such inspiration is found in bionic honeycomb sandwich structures, which demonstrate remarkable strength and low weight, making them suitable for applications in long flexible or large-span constructions such as satellite dishes, roofs, and blades. Furthermore, certain plants, like giant water lilies (specifically Victoria Amazonia originating from South America), have evolved leaves with an impressive load-bearing capacity of up to 60 kilograms, achieved through effectively applying principles of lightweight construction.

In light of the significance attributed to bionic design and lightweight structures, this Special Issue is pleased to announce the inclusion of Dr. Xiaoming Zhang as the Guest Editor, who graduated from the University of Manchester, works in Chongqing University, and has made substantial contributions to the study of 3D structures of beetle elytrons (forewing) and their bio-inspired sandwich plates (beetle elytron plate) in engineering applications. The purpose of this Special Issue is to comprehensively showcase the allure of bionic design and lightweight structures, thereby inviting a diverse range of research findings concerning the utilization of bionic and lightweight structures and materials within the realm of engineering. We eagerly anticipate receiving your valuable contributions in this field.

Dr. Xiaoming Zhang
Guest Editor

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• structural bionics
• lightweight structures and materials
• thin-walled structures
• additive manufacturing