Mini-symposium S5

S5: Advances In Computational Mechanics and Design of Mechanical Metamaterials

Co-chairs: 

Susmita Naskar (University of Southampton)*; Tanmoy Mukhopadhyay (University of Southampton); Fabrizio Scarpa (University of Bristol); Andrew  Alderson (Sheffield Hallam University)

Keywords: Computational design of mechanical metamaterials, Programmable metamaterials, Active metamaterials, Bio-inspired metamaterials, AI and ML in metamaterial design, Multi-scale analysis and design, Tailoring of static and dynamic properties 

ABSTRACT

Mechanical metamaterials are engineered multimaterial structural systems with a mechanical response function that is impossible to achieve with any individual constituent material. Advanced computational analysis and design play a vital role in identifying optimal metamaterial architectures, which can subsequently be manufactured and tested. This mini-symposium aims to focus on the recent advances in computational design and identification of mechanical metamaterials, including analytical and semi-analytical approaches, multi-scale finite element analysis and molecular dynamics simulations along with recent trends in machine learning, artificial intelligence and material informatics. In addition to exploring the modulation of the static and dynamic properties of conventional mechanical metamaterials across various length scales, this mini-symposium will also address the rapidly emerging trends in multifunctional active mechanical metamaterials. These metamaterials couple mechanical, electrical, or magnetic fields with actuations driven by pneumatics, temperature, light, humidity, or chemical reactions, aiming to investigate the potential for programming on-demand mechanical responses. The areas of interest in this context include, but are not limited to, trends and challenges related to real-time reconfigurability and functional programming, nanoscale metamaterials, bio-inspired metamaterials, the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in metamaterials, inverse design and topology optimization, multi-physical Origami/Kirigami, soft and conformal metamaterials, robotic matter, intuitive understanding in metamaterial design, and computational additive manufacturing.