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Smart Metamaterials: Modelling, Structural Mechanics and Performance Analysis

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 303

Special Issue Editors

College of Intelligence Science and Technology, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Interests: acoustic metamaterial; programmable mechanical metamaterials; vibration attenuation; energy absorption; fluid–solid coupling

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Guest Editor
College of Intelligence Science and Technology, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Interests: AI for metamaterials; inverse design; data-driven; structural design; metamaterial dataset

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Guest Editor
College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: impact failure; bio-inspired design; energy absorption; material toughening; fracture mechanics

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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Information, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
Interests: 3D printing of continuous fiber composite; mechanics and design of composite structures; multi-scale modeling
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart metamaterials, engineered with tailored microstructures to exhibit extraordinary, stimuli-responsive properties, are reshaping technological frontiers in aerospace, robotics, and healthcare. This research direction delves into advanced modelling frameworks—spanning finite element analysis and multi-scale simulations—to decode their complex behaviour, paired with in-depth structural mechanics investigations to understand load distribution, deformation mechanisms, and failure dynamics. Performance analysis, via experimental testing and data-driven validation, further refines their design for optimal adaptability, from shape-morphing structures to energy-efficient systems.

This Special Issue of Materials, entitled “Smart Metamaterials: Modelling, Structural Mechanics and Performance Analysis”, seeks to showcase cutting‑edge research on the development and application of metamaterial‑based solutions. We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Impact and blast mitigation using architected materials (e.g., graded lattices, origami/kirigami‑inspired structures, hierarchical foams);
  • Advanced design strategies (e.g., topology optimization, machine learning‑driven synthesis, bio‑inspired configurations);
  • Thermo‑mechanical coupling effects in metamaterials (e.g., thermal expansion control, heat‑triggered phase change, temperature‑dependent stiffness tuning);
  • Vibration and acoustic wave manipulation (e.g., band‑gap engineering, non‑reciprocal waveguides, locally resonant meta‑units);
  • Multi-scale modelling and numerical methods (e.g., finite element homogenization, discrete element approaches, reduced‑order models);
  • Innovative fabrication techniques (e.g., multi‑material additive manufacturing, laser‑directed energy deposition, self‑assembly routes);
  • Theoretical foundations and analytical frameworks (e.g., effective medium theories, Floquet–Bloch analysis, nonlinear dynamical models).

Dr. Qiduo Jin
Dr. Hongjia Zhang
Dr. Yabin Deng
Prof. Dr. Hongyong Jiang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • smart metamaterials
  • structural mechanics
  • modelling
  • performance analysis
  • programmable
  • tunable
  • bio-inspired design
  • crashworthiness
  • vibration suppression

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2237 KB  
Article
First Full-Scale 2D Field Experiment on Semi-Embedded Rubber Column Metamaterials: Enhanced Attenuation of Love Waves and Mechanistic Insights
by Xinchao Zhang, Ning Zheng, Changyin Ji, Yulin Lu and Qingfan Shi
Materials 2025, 18(24), 5517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245517 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 194
Abstract
Despite recent numerical simulations and limited laboratory studies highlighting the potential of semi-embedded seismic metamaterials (SEM) in attenuating Rayleigh waves, their real-world effectiveness remains unverified, particularly for Love waves. Love waves pose significant destructive risks to slender structures but have rarely been the [...] Read more.
Despite recent numerical simulations and limited laboratory studies highlighting the potential of semi-embedded seismic metamaterials (SEM) in attenuating Rayleigh waves, their real-world effectiveness remains unverified, particularly for Love waves. Love waves pose significant destructive risks to slender structures but have rarely been the focus of research. To address this gap, we present the first full-scale 2D field experiment on an SEM composed of an array of semi-embedded rubber column resonators. The experimental results reveal a global bandgap spanning 25–37 Hz and a localized bandgap at 37–42 Hz. At the central frequency of the global bandgap (f0 = 31 Hz), the attenuation reaches −9.3 dB for Love waves and −5.3 dB for Rayleigh waves, with the mitigation of Love waves being notably pronounced. Furthermore, our theoretical and experimental analyses provide novel mechanistic insights: the primary energy dissipation in flexible rubber resonators arises from the resonance of their exposed above-ground sections, while the underground buried parts introduce damping that moderately reduces the efficiency of surface wave attenuation. This pioneering full-scale on-site validation bridges the critical gap between simulation-based predictions and practical seismic protection systems, providing valuable reference for the engineering application of SEM, especially for mitigating destructive waves. Full article
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