Conventional lattice metamaterials have long been limited by severe stress concentration at nodal junctions, leading to premature failure. Drawing inspiration from papyrus culms—which exhibit a distinctive triangular-prismatic cross-section—an international research team developed a geometry-driven biomimetic design strategy that fundamentally alters stress distribution in lattice structures. By transforming circular strut cross-sections into polygonal profiles, the team created 316L stainless steel lattices that demonstrated remarkable improvements: up to 63% increase in compressive strength, 59% enhancement in Young’s modulus, and 33% improvement in energy absorption compared to conventional designs. Microstructural analysis confirmed that stress is effectively redistributed from nodes to struts, engaging more material in load-bearing and enabling uniform deformation throughout the compression process. This simple geometric modification fundamentally alters how stress flows through these structures. The design principle is universal and can be applied across different lattice topologies without compromising isotropy.
The work entitled “Papyrus-inspired 3D printed stainless steel-based lattice metamaterials with architected stress redistribution for superior mechanical performance” was published in Advanced Powder Materials (Available online on 23 February 2026).
DOI：10.1016/j.apmate.2026.100409