Please note that Virtual and Physical Prototyping converted to a full Open Access journal from Volume 18 (2023). Previous volumes will continue to provide access through a Pay to Read model.

Virtual and Physical Prototyping is online only. We welcome authors to submit supplementary data sets, colour images, animation and videos to publish with your articles to enhance the content experience of the journal.

Virtual and Physical Prototyping provides an international forum for professionals and academics to exchange novel ideas and disseminate knowledge covering the full range of activities related to the multi-disciplinary area of virtual and rapid prototyping.

The scope of VPP includes:

Design for additive manufacturing: topological optimisation, lightweight, biomimetic design, functionally graded structures, etc.
4D printing: smart materials, shape memory polymers/alloys, deployable structures, etc.
Multi-material printing: 3D printing of multiple metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, etc.
Hybrid manufacturing: combination of additive and subtractive technologies
Functional 3D printing: functional design, functional prototyping, etc.

As well as the following topics:

CAD and 3D data acquisition technologies
Quality control and AM standards
Bioprinting and biofabrication
Concrete printing
Advancements in additive manufacturing processes
New process for additive manufacturing
New material formulations and composite materials
Processing of materials in additive manufacturing
Heterogeneous design in additive manufacturing
Novel applications of additive manufacturing
Metamaterial 3D printing
Embedded 3D printed electronics
Food 3D printing
Ceramics printing
Aerogels 3D printing
Composite materials printing (specific to AM)
Auxetic structures (specific to AM)
Recycling of printing materials
3D printing of photonics, optics, and optoelectronics
Wood 3D printing
Postprocessing of additive manufacturing (e.g. heat treatment, HIP, surface treatment)
Data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence (specific to AM)
Safety, health issues (specific to AM)
Nano-, micro- and meso-3D printing
Alloy design via additive manufacturing
Smart manufacturing via AM
Predictive modelling for additive manufacturing
Nature-inspired designs via AM
Miscellaneous: e-manufacturing/Internet of things, legal perspectives, economics, social and environmental implications, sustainability, circular economy, case studies, etc. (specific to AM)

All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees.