The rapid development of smart materials and architected structures has opened new frontiers in the design of high-performance systems with programmable mechanical behavior. Recent progress in additive manufacturing (3D printing) and materials engineering has enabled the realization of complex geometries, tunable microstructures, and novel material combinations that were previously unattainable. In particular, mechanical metamaterials and advanced composites—featuring properties derived from structure rather than composition alone—have become key enablers for next-generation applications in aerospace, robotics, biomedical engineering, and beyond.
This Research Topic seeks to explore the interplay between material intelligence, structural design, and advanced manufacturing processes. Smart materials, such as shape memory alloys, piezoelectric polymers, and stimuli-responsive composites, offer dynamic and adaptive behaviors under external fields or loading. When integrated into architected systems or metamaterials, they unlock exceptional mechanical properties such as negative Poisson’s ratio, ultra-high energy absorption, or reconfigurability. Coupled with 3D printing technologies, these innovations can be rapidly prototyped and tailored for specific mechanical, thermal, or functional needs. However, key challenges remain in understanding their deformation mechanisms, scaling effects, and reliability under complex service conditions. This topic invites work that addresses these challenges through experimental studies, theoretical models, or computational simulations.
We welcome submissions including Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, and Perspectives in the following areas:
-Design and mechanics of mechanical metamaterials and architected structures
-Additive manufacturing of smart or composite materials with tailored mechanical performance
-Experimental investigations of deformation, failure, or adaptive behavior in architected materials
-Computational modeling and multiscale simulation of smart or printed structures
-Structure–property relationships in 3D-printed composites or responsive materials
-Applications of advanced materials and structures in aerospace, energy, biomedical devices, and soft robotics
Interdisciplinary contributions that bridge materials science, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing are particularly encouraged. We are especially interested in innovative studies that provide new insights into structure-driven performance and practical implementations of smart structural systems.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
- Editorial
- FAIR² Data
- 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: Smart materials, Mechanical metamaterials, 3D/4D printing, Advanced structures, Composite materials
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.
