Metamaterials are a class of periodic or non-periodic microstructures with unique physical properties that can be easily regulated by the microstructure itself. They are considered to be cutting-edge materials with the potential to change the world. Among them, mechanical metamaterials with negative Poisson’s ratio (also known as auxetic) and negative stiffness properties have demonstrated remarkable potential in a variety of engineering applications, including energy absorption, flexible sensors and mechanical computing. However, as engineering challenges grow increasingly complex, there is a rising demand for metamaterials capable of multi-tasking and intelligent responsiveness. This has sparked significant interest in advanced design strategies, such as intrinsic material preparation, key structural optimization, multifunctional integration and mechanical performance tuning and programming. Accordingly, this Research Topic focuses on the latest advancements in multifunctional and intelligent auxetic/negative stiffness metamaterials, covering their material properties, structural behaviors, and functional applications. Our aim is to compile cutting-edge research that will provide valuable insights for engineering applications across industries such as biomedicine, automotive engineering, aerospace and electronic devices.
We invite contributions on, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Design, preparation, and characterization of intelligent materials/structures,
• Auxetic metamaterials: novel designs, performance optimization, and applications,
• Negative stiffness metamaterials: innovative mechanisms and functional enhancements,
• Multi-step deformation metamaterials: programmable and adaptive behaviors,
• Machine learning for mechanical metamaterials,
• Bio-inspired metamaterials for novel functionality,
• Others.
This Research Topic seeks to foster interdisciplinary discussions and accelerate the development of next-generation metamaterials. We welcome Original Research, Reviews, and Mini Review on emerging innovations. We also encourage perspectives and commentaries on future trends in metamaterials.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
- Editorial
- FAIR² Data
- FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
- Mini Review
- Original Research
- Perspective
- Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Keywords: negative Poisson’s ratio, negative stiffness, multi-step deformation, energy absorption, mechanical computing, intelligent response
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
