This course focuses on the properties, design, and manufacturing of metamaterials in the context of aerospace structures. Metamaterials (also called architectured materials or materials-by-design) are materials with carefully designed meso- and micro-structures to achieve macroscopic properties which are not typically observed in conventional engineering materials. Therefore, the geometry of metamaterials directly influences their properties, rather than their compositions, as found, for example, in typical alloy systems.

Metamaterials are often characterized by a spatial symmetry. The most well-known category of metamaterials are truss structures in bridge and tower structures in civil engineering. Advances in additive manufacturing enabled the design and manufacturing of these truss networks on the meso-and micro-scale. They combine desirable mechanical properties, e.g., high stiffness, high strength, and high fracture toughness, while still maintaining a low density. This unique combination of mechanical properties creates highly sought-after materials for aerospace applications, such as stiffening components in reusable rockets, high-toughness aircraft fuselages, or zero thermal expansion structures in satellites. Other classes of metamaterials will be briefly explored in this course, which combine beneficial mechanical properties with, for example, the capability of manipulating electromagnetic waves (blocking wave-propagation, embedding sensors, or tailoring the sound propagation). Finally, novel classes of metamaterials will be discussed in this course, e.g., active materials and design for self-assembly.