Next Generation Multi-Materials by Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

Nature-inspired multi-material structures—such as bone, nacre, and plant stems—exemplify unique and sophisticated architectures that exhibit remarkable properties and multifunctional capabilities. Emulating these biological systems, engineered multi-materials strategically integrate two or more compositionally distinct constituents within a single component to achieve synergistic combinations of properties and functionalities unattainable by monolithic materials. In pursuit of sustainability, mechanical and materials engineers are actively developing next-generation multi-materials featuring hierarchical architecture and functionally graded designs. These innovations aim to optimize structural performance, enhance material efficiency, and improve overall component functionality. Recent advances in manufacturing technologies now enable near-net-shape fabrication, significantly reducing raw material consumption, energy usage, and component weight, thereby mitigating the environmental footprint of industrial production. Among these technologies, additive manufacturing stands out for its precision and versatility. By depositing material point-by-point, line-by-line, or layer-by-layer, it facilitates the fabrication of geometrically complex, compositionally diverse components. Its inherent flexibility allows seamless integration of multiple materials, unlocking unprecedented geometric freedom and functional complexity. This capability is particularly transformative for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical sectors, where optimized, lightweight, and durable components are essential.

Scientific contributions are invited from scientists, researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to disseminate recent inventions and developments in next-generation multi-material structure development. The potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Multi-material manufacturing from a vast range of materials, including polymers, metals, and ceramics;
• Design for multi-material manufacturing;
• Tool path optimization for multi-material manufacturing;
• Functionally graded materials;
• Bioinspired design for additive manufacturing;
• Opportunities and difficulties in multi-material manufacturing.

This Special Issue looks forward to receiving submissions in any form, including review articles, regular research articles, and short communications. Both experimental and theoretical studies are of interest.

Dr. Sokkalingam Rathinavelu
Dr. Shiladitya Paul
Prof. Dr. Prashanth Konda Gokuldoss
Guest Editors

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