Mechanical Metamaterials

The Mechanical Metamaterials (MM) Special Interest Group (SIG) covers topics related to the design, modelling, testing and prototyping of metamaterials that feature unusual deformation mechanisms.

Examples of MM exhibiting these features include negative and extreme Poisson’s ratio, thermal expansion, stiffness and compressibility. Applications of mechanical metamaterials are in the areas of sports equipment,  soft robotics, shape morphing, vibroacoustics, energy absorption and structural integrity.

The relation between the materials constituents and the architecture of the mechanical metamaterials is of particular interest to this Group. Origami/Kirigami engineering, lattice designs and metacomposites are all technologies and topics that this Special Interest Group is keen to foster during the activities of the Network.

The Group is also interested in discussing modelling and design techniques, as well as prototyping and production aspects in collaboration with other relevant SIGs.

Mechanical Metamaterials Roadmap

See Olly Duncan, Marcelo A. Dias, Andrew Alderson et al, ‘Roadmap on mechanical metamaterials’ (2026).

The mechanical metamaterials roadmap will cover the various core types of mechanical metamaterial, ordered by their anomalous properties. With the large volume of work to date focussing on auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) mechanical metamaterials, this property is split into five sections (each with different authors). A final section will summarise current and potential application areas, using current products as case studies showing requirements for industry uptakes. The roadmap will be edited by Prof Alderson, Dr Duncan, and Dr Dias.

• Negative Poisson’s ratio
  • Cellular solids
  • Textiles
  • Composites
  • Polymers
  • Nano/molecular and miniaturisation
• Natural and Bioinspired Mechanical Metamaterials
• Flexible and Shape Morphing Mechanical Metamaterials
• Negative Stiffness/Compressibility
• Negative Thermal Expansion
• Applications