Topic: Deployable and Flexible Structures: Mechanics, Sensing, and Emerging Applications

Deployable and flexible structures are attracting growing interest as conventional rigid systems face rising demands for adaptability, compactness, and multifunctionality. Structures that can fold, morph, stretch, or reconfigure their geometry overcome the limitations of fixed forms by adapting their configuration to changing operational environments. Concurrently, advances in compliant mechanisms, origami- and kirigami-inspired architectures, mechanical metamaterials, and programmable structures offer new strategies for controlling deformation and mechanical responses. These advances have motivated the integration of flexible sensing into mechanically adaptive structures, enabling direct capture of deformation, strain, pressure, motion, and environmental information from the structure itself. This convergence of structural adaptability and embedded sensing is transforming deployable and flexible systems from passive mechanical components into intelligent platforms capable of sensing, responding, and interacting with their surroundings. Such capabilities are particularly critical for emerging technologies in which spatial constraints, dynamic deformation, and real-time feedback must be addressed simultaneously.  

This Special Issue, “Deployable and Flexible Structures: Mechanics, Sensing, and Emerging Applications,” focuses on advances that bridge structural mechanics and sensing with application-driven system development. We invite contributions that demonstrate how these technologies can enable practical solutions in areas such as aerospace deployable mechanics, wearable and soft systems, adaptive robotics, biomedical technologies, and other emerging applications. By bridging mechanics, sensing, and system-level integration, this Special Issue aims to highlight the potential of deployable and flexible structures as adaptable, intelligent technologies for real-world applications.

Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

● Mechanics, design, and modeling of deployable, reconfigurable, and morphing soft structures;

● Flexible, deformable, and compliant structures, including origami- and kirigami-inspired architectures;

● Flexible metamaterials, architected materials, and programmable structures;

● Flexible, stretchable, and structural sensing for adaptive soft systems;

● Integrated multifunctional structures combining mechanics, sensing, and intelligent response;

● Emerging applications in aerospace deployable mechanics, soft and wearable systems, adaptive robotics, biomedical technologies, and human–machine interfaces.