Construction
Self-healing concrete, adaptive facades and reconfigurable structures.
A novel mechanical metamaterial with tunable mechanical and compression-torsion properties
A proposed mechanical metamaterial tunes Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus, and compression–torsion properties by altering unit cell number and how unit cells are combined, aiming to reduce redesign and manufacturing cost.
Heat breaks the rules at the nanoscale and scientists used it to their advantage
Nanoscale gold metamaterials can boost heat transfer across tiny gaps by up to 4×, enabling more efficient thermal management and precision heat engineering.
Tough self-healing elastomers by molecular enforced integration of covalent and reversible networks
By molecularly enforcing mixing of reversible hydrogen-bond networks with permanent covalent crosslinks, the authors fabricate a tough dry elastomer that self-heals at room temperature.
Modeling of Self-Healing Polymer Composites Reinforced with Nanoporous Glass Fibers
Continuum rate-equation modeling and numerical simulations suggest that parameter choices can partially overcome fatigue and delay mechanical property degradation in self-healing polymer composites with nanoporous glass fibers.
HVAF Spraying of NiTi Coatings: Microstructure, Phase Transformation and Shape Memory Behavior
HVAF spraying enables thick (100–300 µm) NiTi shape-memory alloy coatings on mild steel that can undergo martensitic transformation and exhibit thermal actuation and shape memory effects after annealing.
Recent progress in 4D printing: materials, methods and applications
This review synthesizes how 4D printing couples additive methods with stimulus-responsive materials—especially shape-memory polymers—to achieve programmed, time-dependent shape and property changes, while noting reliability and scalability
4D printing for crack trapping and adaptive damage-tolerant structures
A review synthesizes how 4D printing can enable crack trapping and damage-tolerant behavior through smart, metamaterial-based self-sensing and time-dependent shape change.
Shape-morphing greenhouse: design of a thermally responsive transparent 4D-printed structure
A proof-of-concept transparent 4D-printed PLA greenhouse structure was tested for thermally driven shape-morphing ventilation using bio-inspired mechanisms, showing concept potential but material and structural limits.
4D printed hydromorph biocomposites with shape change and force generation properties: progress towards structural actuation
4D-printed flax/PLA hydromorph biocomposites can be tuned to deliver water-driven shape change with blocked force and energy density comparable to wood, supporting structural actuation design.
Design, modelling and experimental validation of bipenniform shape memory alloy-based linear actuator integrable with hydraulic stroke amplification mechanism
A bio-inspired bipenniform SMA coil linear actuator is modelled and experimentally validated, achieving 257 N at 15 V and reduced drive mechanism weight and energy versus a stepper motor benchmark.
Snap-Through Thermomechanical Metamaterials for High-Performance Thermal Rectification
A snap-through thermomechanical metamaterial thermal diode using SMA springs and bistable copper strips achieves strong, passive thermal rectification with validated experiments and scalable modular stacking.
Applications and Research of 4D Printing in Material Design
4D printing integrates smart materials into additive manufacturing so cured parts can undergo programmable, stimulus-driven shape and functionality changes over time.
Revisiting the cofactor conditions: Elimination of transition layers in compound domains
A new algebraic compatibility framework predicts conditions for eliminating transition layers and yields novel zero-elastic-energy microstructures that can improve shape-memory alloy reversibility and durability.
Thermomechanical Modelling and Shape Prediction in 4D Printing Using FEA
A thermomechanical FEA approach is used to simulate and plan shape morphing in 4D-printed two-layer and more complex structures.
Lactobacilli in Material Science: Sustainable Biopolymers and Self-Healing Technologies
Lactobacilli-based biofabrication is presented as a route to biodegradable biopolymers, self-repairing concrete, and antimicrobial coatings.
Tailored continuous flax fiber-reinforced shape memory polymer biocomposites: Enhanced thermomechanical and shape memory performance for sustainable structural applications
Continuous flax fiber-reinforced shape memory polymer biocomposites are tailored to improve thermomechanical behavior and shape-memory performance for sustainable structural use.
Quasi-static shape control of soft, morphing structures
A general quasi-static shape-control framework for soft morphing structures is developed, analyzing how large deformations and compliance affect equilibrium topology and stability, illustrated with a snap-through-prone Kirchhoff rod.
2D-to-3D transformation of ring origami via snap-folding instabilities
By adding out-of-plane natural curvature to ring-origami rods, 2D rings can spontaneously snap into designed 3D equilibrium shapes with controllable mono- or multistability.
Design and development of one-dimensional acoustic bundle ventilated metamaterial
A one-dimensional kink-fiber acoustic meta-structured blanket is proposed and validated to enable broadband sound absorption while permitting airflow through the structure.
Integrated damage sensing and self-healing in polymers and composites: Progress and opportunities
The article reviews how integrated damage sensing and self-healing can be achieved in polymers and composites, contrasting living materials with synthetic strategies and outlining opportunities to expand beyond soft polymers.
Directed Shape Morphing using Kirigami-enhanced Thermoplastics
Uniform heating of Kirigami-patterned, heat-shrinkable thermoplastic bilayers can autonomously morph flat sheets into complex 3D shapes designed by geometry.
Metamaterial acoustic barriers for traffic noise control in urban zones
Geometrically periodic acoustic metamaterial barriers, tested at 1:10 scale, can reduce traffic noise, with porous polyethylene layers improving absorption over a wide frequency range.
Systematic design of compliant morphing structures: a phase-field approach
A phase-field framework is developed to systematically design compliant morphing structures from stimulus-reacting materials, with convergence and efficient numerical implementation shown in simulations.
Inverse design of programmable shape-morphing kirigami structures
A two-stage inverse-design framework links kirigami geometry to mechanics to create shape-morphing structures that deploy from compact to target states under mechanical stimuli.