Multi-Scale Modeling of Polymeric Metamaterials: Bridging Design and Performance—A Review

Polymers, as metamaterials, represent an emerging area of research, where designed microstructural geometries lead to the competitively superior mechanical properties in these materials. Such materials are quite broadly used in energy absorption, impact protection, and biomedical systems. Polymeric metamaterials improve energy absorption and impact protection compared to traditional materials by leveraging their engineered microstructural geometries, which enhance their ability to dissipate energy and withstand impacts more effectively. However, for them to perform optimally, the relations between their micro and macro geometrical configurations need to be clearly understood. This paper reviews the significance of multi-scale modeling as one of the effective approaches for linking these differences. Considering the most recent developments in all these methods, including polymeric electronic materials at the microscale, mesoscale cellular structure, and at macroscale computational engineering, this paper underscores the holistic cross-fertilization of these methods. Some of their prominent uses include different engineering applications, such as structures for impact attenuation and load-carrying systems, demonstrating multi-scale procedures as promising tools to solve engineering problems. However, issues such as technical difficulties and the integration of experimental data within nonlinear and time-dependent considerations lead to challenges in the modeling of polymeric metamaterials. This review concludes with the identification of new trends such as the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) within modeling processes, as well as sustainability aspects which help to overcome existing constraints while allowing for great development opportunities. Along with the information of core research questions and gaps, this paper seeks to provide a systematic framework of technologies and applications that can be the basis for future research and development of polymeric metamaterials.