Theory, Modelling and AI

The Metamaterials Theory, Modelling and AI Special Interest Group (SIG) covers all aspects of metamaterial modelling. It aims to identify strengths and limitations (as well as how to overcome them) of the different metamaterial models. Inverse design and AI methods are key to discover a new generation of metamaterials with desired properties. It also covers topics such as feasibility of a metamaterial model for translation to manufacture.

Naturally, Metamaterials Modelling has close connections to many other SIGs in the network and will work with them through joint events to facilitate learning and new innovative ideas. Priorities are to develop clear guidelines for uses of different modelling and design approaches and to map out the landscape of expertise and capabilities.

Theory, Modelling & AI Roadmap

See Bryn Davies, Stefan Szyniszewski et al, ‘Roadmap on metamaterial theory, modelling and design’, J. Phys. D: Applied Physics, 58 (2025)

The growth of metamaterial science has brought to the fore the power of micro-structuring materials to achieve previously unattainable properties. Metamaterial-based breakthroughs have had wide-ranging technological implications, including realising materials with effectively negative material parameters, allowing for design freedoms such as the ability to finely tune highly anisotropic properties or practical considerations such as being able to greatly reduce mass. However, the often complex and many-degree-of-freedom nature of the small-scale geometries that have facilitated these breakthroughs come with associated challenges. Traditional direct numerical simulations can incur significant computational costs (due to the need to use very fine meshes). This, combined with the high-dimensional associated parameter spaces, can render design problems computationally intractable. As a result, researchers have developed a variety of strategies to characterise metamaterials’ properties, seeking approaches that greatly simplify problems while still capturing the material’s key features.