Spatially Programmable Architected Materials Inspired by The Metallurgical Phase Engineering.

Programmable architected materials with capabilities of precisely storing predefined mechanical behaviors and adaptive deformation responses upon external stimulations are desirable to help increasing the performance and the organic integration of materials with surrounding environments. Here, we propose a new approach inspired by the physical metallurgical principles to allow the materials designers to not only enhance the global strength, but also precisely tune mechanical properties (such as strength, modulus and plastic deformation) locally in architected materials to create a new class of intelligent mechanical metamaterials. Such programmable materials not only have high strength and plastic deformation stability, but also the abilities to regulate the local deformation states and spatially control the internal propagation of deformation. This innovative approach also provides new and effective ways to enhance the adaptivity of the materials thanks to responsive strengths that not only makes the materials increasingly stronger, but also allows threshold-based adaptive responses to external loading. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.