Mechanical metamaterials take advantage of internal architecture to achieve functional integration and targeted mechanical property changes. The recent advances in research focus on design, simulation and manufacturing of those complex material systems and provide a promising outlook for future material innovations. In order to bring those materials from the laboratory to the market, tailored characterization techniques are required. Traditional material testing methods need to be rethought and unconventional ways to harness the increased complexity of materials explored. Novel methods to gain information about the condition of components, from formation of defects during the manufacturing process, quality control of components to condition monitoring during their lifetime, will be necessary for industrial application.

In the present talk, recent advances in the nondestructive characterization of lattice structures and mechanical metamaterials will be presented with a focus on multiple acoustic characterization techniques. The research aims to relate nondestructive parameters to critical parameters of the metamaterials and thus gain insights on geometry, quasi-static mechanical properties or a damage degree following fatigue testing.