Advanced Structural Metals: Integrating Mechanics, Processing, and Performance Characterization

Dear Colleagues,

The pursuit of structural metals with superior performance, efficiency, and reliability continues to drive progress in aerospace, energy, and biomedical engineering. Central to this effort is the enduring challenge of predicting how processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties interact across scales, a relationship long defined by the process–structure–property (PSP) framework. While this principle remains essential, the field is entering a new phase shaped by the convergence of architected materials, advanced alloys, additive manufacturing (AM), and digital methods such as computational mechanics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Architected materials, particularly lattice-based systems, have evolved into true mechanical metamaterials in which geometry dictates exceptional behavior. At the same time, advanced alloys such as high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are extending the compositional frontiers of metallurgy, combining strength, toughness, and resilience in ways previously thought unattainable. AM provides the critical bridge, enabling the transition from digital designs to physical structures and facilitating both complex geometries and unconventional alloy chemistries.

Computational mechanics offers physics-based predictions of material behavior, while AI and Machine Learning (ML) accelerate exploration of design spaces, enable optimization, and guide discovery.

This Special Issue seeks to capture the synergies arising from these intersections, providing a platform for original research, reviews, and short communications that highlight how design, manufacturing, and digital intelligence together are defining the next generation of structural materials.

Topics of Interest (include but are not limited to the following):

• Computational Design of Architected and Advanced Materials: AI-driven and generative design of lattice structures and mechanical metamaterials with tailored properties. Computational design and high-throughput screening of high-entropy alloys (CALPHAD, atomistic simulations, ML). Topology optimization and bio-inspired design of functionally graded materials.
• Metal Additive Manufacturing: Process–microstructure–property relationships in AM of HEAs, architected materials, and advanced alloys. In situ monitoring, data-driven process control, and qualification for AM components. Post-processing strategies to optimize fatigue life, ductility, and toughness.
• Computational Mechanics and Modeling: Multiscale modeling frameworks from atomistic to finite elements, covering deformation, fatigue, and fracture. High-fidelity simulations of architected materials under extreme conditions, including impact and multiaxial loading. Computational modeling of manufacturing processes (e.g., forging, forming, joining) to optimize microstructure, properties, and component performance.
• Experimental Mechanics and Characterization: Advanced in situ/operando testing, DIC, EBSD, APT, and non-destructive evaluation techniques.
• Structural Analysis and Integrity: Damage tolerance, life prediction, and design optimization of engineering components.

This is a unique moment in materials science. Architected design, alloy innovation, manufacturing technologies, and digital intelligence are no longer separate tracks but interconnected engines of progress. We warmly invite you to contribute to this Special Issue and help capture this exciting transition.

Dr. Víctor Tuninetti
Dr. Ángelo Oñate
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• structural metals
• architected materials
• mechanical metamaterials
• high-entropy alloys (HEAs)
• additive manufacturing (AM)
• computational mechanics
• finite element modeling (FEM)
• multiscale modeling
• machine learning (ML)
• physics-informed machine learning (PIML)
• structural integrity