Cellular and Composite Structures

Cellular and composite structures are engineered materials whose internal architecture—networks of struts, pores, or repeating unit cells—determines their mechanical behavior as much as their chemical composition does. By controlling geometry at the microscale, researchers can produce metal foams and lattice structures that are exceptionally light yet capable of absorbing large amounts of energy during impact, or that exhibit unusual properties like negative Poisson's ratio, meaning they expand sideways when stretched. Additive manufacturing has accelerated this work considerably, making it practical to fabricate complex geometries—including porous metal scaffolds tailored to mimic bone—that would be impossible to produce through conventional machining. Active research questions center on how to reliably predict failure in these architecturally complex materials, how to optimize designs for specific biomedical or aerospace loading conditions, and how to scale precision fabrication without introducing defects that undermine the very properties the geometry is meant to provide.

Works

40,993

Total citations

815,351

Keywords

Cellular MetalsMetal FoamsMechanical MetamaterialsAdditive ManufacturingPorous MetalsAuxetic Materials