STUDY PROGRESS ON BIONIC STRATEGIES AND LOAD-BEARING AND ENERGY-ABSORBING MECHANISMS OF HONEYCOMB STRUCTURES

Advanced structural materials derived from biological systems exhibit exceptional protective capabilities, reliably safeguarding organisms and organs within complex impact environments. Bio-inspired honeycomb structures designed through such mechanisms have transcended the strength-toughness trade-off limitations inherent in traditional designs. These innovations mitigate the abrupt load-bearing capacity reductions caused by stress concentrations while enhancing energy absorption stability. This review systematically examines research advances in bionic strategies for two-dimensional honeycomb structures, explores the biomimetic characteristics and design principles of representative cases, delineates their underlying mechanical reinforcement and energy dissipation mechanisms, and critically evaluates key performance parameters—including crushing force efficiency (CFE), specific strength (SS), and specific energy absorption (SEA). From a biomimetic conceptual perspective, we consolidate current strategies into five primary design paradigms: feature-based imitation, hierarchical design, gradient bionic strategy, bionic unit enhancement strategy, and function-oriented strategy. Finally, we address persistent challenges confronting bio-inspired honeycombs—notably the inherent tension between structural complexity and manufacturability, alongside the optimization of material-structural synergy—while outlining future research trajectories. This work establishes a design paradigm for biomimetic honeycomb development and provides a systematic framework and technical roadmap for engineering lightweight, high-strength, high-efficiency energy-absorbing structures.