Review of Bioinspired Sandwich Composite Structures, Mechanism, Mechanical Performance, and Application

Natural biological materials exhibit significant structural efficiency and mechanical performance, and they possess complex bioinspired composite structures with high strength, toughness, stiffness, and resistance to damage. Inspired by these, researchers developed bioinspired composites with high resistance to mechanisms such as crack deflection, fiber bridging, layering, and energy dissipation, enhancing their mechanical and structural behavior. In this paper, we review recent developments in biomimetic composite structures derived from various biological organisms and highlight their potential for advanced engineering applications. Several analytical and computational modeling approaches, including Refined Zigzag Theory (RZT), finite element analysis (FEM), cohesive zone modeling (CZM), and emerging machine learning techniques, are discussed as effective tools for predicting and optimizing the performance of these materials. This review highlights how integrating structural inspiration from nature with modern modeling techniques facilitates the development of lightweight, high-performance materials for aerospace, marine, construction, and smart sensing applications.Sustainable development goals are aligned in this study by promoting sustainable industrial innovation (SDG 9), responsible material usage (SDG 12), and reduced environmental impact through lightweight composite design (SDG 13). Finally, future research directions are outlined to develop smart, durable, and environmentally sustainable biomimetic composite materials.