Smart structures have the capacity to constantly monitor their health and condition, identify early-stage damage or defects, and even forecast potential breakdowns. Additionally, they are capable of mitigating developing strains, deflections, and accelerations under dynamic environmental and manmade loads, thus decreasing the likelihood of structural damage, prolonging fatigue life, and ultimately improving structural performance under operational conditions and extreme events (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or blasts). The growing need for high-performance and cost-effective structures has led to a surge of interest in smart structures, due to their potential to improve the safety, durability, and efficiency of structures.

Smart structural design often requires the development of novel motion control and monitoring systems with improved performance characteristics compared to traditional structures. Indeed, challenges arise in the design of such systems for the sufficient and cost-effective mitigating and monitoring of structural vibrations in the case of extreme events, such as large-magnitude earthquakes, typhoons, and strong ocean waves.

The aim of this Special Issue is to serve as a forum for scholars and practitioners to exchange current research, developments, and viewpoints concerning the advancement and implementation of smart structures. This Special Issue will cover various aspects of smart structures, including, but not limited to, novel sensing and actuation technologies, structural health monitoring, adaptive control strategies, intelligent materials and structures, and their applications in civil and mechanical engineering. Overall, this Special Issue aims to advance smart structure research and applications and to promote the collaboration and exchange of ideas among researchers, practitioners, and industry experts.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Vibration control of smart structures
• Health monitoring and diagnosis of smart structures
• Smart materials and their applications in smart structures
• Energy harvesting and storage in smart structures
• Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart structures
• Application of digital twin technology in smart structures