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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2023) | Viewed by 10578

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hanxing Zhu

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Guest Editor

School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Interests: cellular materials; composite materials, functional materials; nanomaterials; biological materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yongtao Lyu

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
Interests: biomechanics; mechanical behavior of biomaterials; numerical simulations of musculoskeletal system; bone mechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of novel new materials/structures has played an important role in advancing the relevant science and engineering fields. For example, the emergence of new carbon-reinforced composites has significantly increased the performance of new-generation airplanes. The additive manufacturing technique has enabled the design and production of many novel new structures and brought the development of new materials/structures to the frontier of science again. The mechanical properties and physical functions of materials/structures are a crucial part in this development. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the development of new materials/structures, the study of their mechanical properties and physical functions, and the exploration of their applications.

The topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Cellular materials/structures
Metamaterials
Lattice structures
Smart composite materials/structures
Functional materials
Nanomaterials
Biomaterials

Dr. Hanxing Zhu
Dr. Yongtao Lu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

cellular materials
metamaterials
lattice materials
composites
functional materials
nanomaterials
biomaterials
mechanical properties
physical functions

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 7795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Finite-Element-Analysis-Based Study of a Failure Phenomenon in HDPE Pipes

by Horatiu Teodorescu Draghicescu, Maria Luminita Scutaru and Sorin Vlase

Materials 2023, 16(21), 6944; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216944 - 29 Oct 2023

Viewed by 906

Abstract

In pipes made of HDPE used in city water supply networks, a specific type of failure is commonly noted, called the parrot’s beak failure. It requires expensive intervention. The prediction and study of the development of this defect, therefore, requires thorough research. In this work, the finite element method is used to study the mechanism of the occurrence and development of this defect. Two examples of the calculation for the concrete case of some tubes used in a water supply network are presented. This study is important for the designers of such networks, to predict and prevent the occurrence of this defect that can lead to unwanted network downtime and high repair costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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14 pages, 8739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Primary Irradiation Damage of Hydrogen-Accumulated Nickel: An Atomistic Study

by Xiaoting Yuan, Hai Huang, Yinghui Zhong, Bin Cai, Zhongxia Liu and Qing Peng

Materials 2023, 16(12), 4296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16124296 - 9 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1024

Abstract

Nickel-based alloys have demonstrated significant promise as structural materials for Gen-IV nuclear reactors. However, the understanding of the interaction mechanism between the defects resulting from displacement cascades and solute hydrogen during irradiation remains limited. This study aims to investigate the interaction between irradiation-induced point defects and solute hydrogen on nickel under diverse conditions using molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, the effects of solute hydrogen concentrations, cascade energies, and temperatures are explored. The results show a pronounced correlation between these defects and hydrogen atoms, which form clusters with varying hydrogen concentrations. With increasing the energy of a primary knock-on atom (PKA), the number of surviving self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) also increases. Notably, at low PKA energies, solute hydrogen atoms impede the clustering and formation of SIAs, while at high energies, they promote such clustering. The impact of low simulation temperatures on defects and hydrogen clustering is relatively minor. High temperature has a more obvious effect on the formation of clusters. This atomistic investigation offers valuable insights into the interaction between hydrogen and defects in irradiated environments, thereby informing material design considerations for next-generation nuclear reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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9 pages, 2267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neutron-Absorption Properties of B/Cu Composites

by Haoran Wang, Shuo Zhao, Junqing Han, Yuying Wu, Xiangfa Liu and Zuoshan Wei

Materials 2023, 16(4), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041443 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

Copper has high electrical and thermal conductivity, which is frequently employed in structural and functional materials. In this research, powder metallurgy was used to incorporate boron nanosheets into metal matrix composites to create boron dispersion-enhanced copper matrix composites. The neutron-absorption characteristics of composite materials were investigated, as well as the link between neutron-absorption cross-section and neutron energy. The results told us that the morphology of the second phase on the particle surface is closely related to the size of Cu-B particles, copper and boron correspond atomically to each other on the interface without dislocation or lattice distortion, forming a completely coherent interface, and that the neutron absorption cross-section decreases exponentially as neutron energy increases. In low-energy neutrons with energies less than 0.1 eV, the increase of boron content and ¹⁰B abundance in Cu-B alloy will enhance the neutron-absorption capacity of the alloy. Boron dispersion-strengthened copper matrix composites have good neutron-absorption capacity, and the microstructure and size of boron do not affect the neutron-absorption performance of composites with the same content of boron. The hardness of the B-dispersion-strengthened Cu matrix composite obtained by nanoindentation test is about 3.04 GPa. Copper matrix composites with boron dispersion reinforcement exhibit high hardness and neutron-absorption characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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23 pages, 14311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Easily Used Phenomenological Magnetization Model and Its Empirical Expressions Based on Jiles–Atherton Parameters

by Guangming Xue, Hongbai Bai, Tuo Li and Chunhong Lu

Materials 2022, 15(21), 7592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217592 - 28 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1062

Abstract

In this paper, a simple magnetization model convenient for engineering applications is presented based on the expressions of the first-order LTI system model. Considering the trade-off between the nonlinearity of anhysteretic magnetization and the hysteresis width, the proposed model employs two different equations with different magnetic field amplitudes. Furthermore, the proposed model utilizes the first-order LTI system model with a low magnetic field amplitude and a simple nonlinear function, based on the amplitude–frequency function, with a high magnetic field amplitude. Two important characteristic parameters for engineering applications, namely, amplitude and the equivalent phase lag, were exacted and analyzed to validate the computation precision of the proposed model. Then, the model was verified through comparisons to the validated Jiles–Atherton model. For easy use, similar to a physics-based model instead of a fitting method, empirical expressions for the model parameters were given, and applicable ranges of these equations were determined using the parameters of the Jiles–Atherton model. Finally, an example of the magnetization model applied to an on/off type device was computed to further verify the effectiveness of the proposed model with quite a simple expression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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12 pages, 2428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elasticity of Mg₃Bi_2-xSb_x

by Qing Peng, Shuai Zhao, Xiaoze Yuan and Xiao-Jia Chen

Materials 2022, 15(20), 7161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207161 - 14 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1534

Abstract

Mg₃Bi_2-xSb_x is a promising thermoelectric material working around room temperatures. Compared to electronic and thermoelectric properties, its mechanical properties are of great importance in practical applications but much less understood. Herein, we have systematically studied the elasticity of Mg₃Bi_2-xSb_x by means of first-principles calculations with a large supercell of 40 atoms. We demonstrated that the 10-atom-unitcell is undersized with improper electronic structures. With the elastic constants, we have explored the comprehensive elastic features and the three-dimensional distribution of fundamental characteristics of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio and their variation with respect to the Sb content x. We interpolate the variation in terms of the valence electron concentration. We have further examined the hardness, ductility, anisotropicity, and Debye temperatures. The elasticity exhibits strong anisotropy where the maxima are approximately three times larger than the minima for modules. A nearly linear dependence is also observed on the Sb content except x in the vicinity of 0.5. Our atomistic insights on elasticity might be helpful in the material design of thermoelectrics with desirable mechanical properties. Our work could serve as a map for tuning the mechanical properties of Mg₃Bi_2-xSb_x and guide the possible synthesizing of novel thermoelectric material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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Review

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30 pages, 14378 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Mechanical Properties of Graphene Aerogel Materials: Experimental Measurements and Computer Simulations

by Penghao Qi, Hanxing Zhu, Feodor Borodich and Qing Peng

Materials 2023, 16(5), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051800 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

Graphene aerogels (GAs) combine the unique properties of two-dimensional graphene with the structural characteristics of microscale porous materials, exhibiting ultralight, ultra-strength, and ultra-tough properties. GAs are a type of promising carbon-based metamaterials suitable for harsh environments in aerospace, military, and energy-related fields. However, there are still some challenges in the application of graphene aerogel (GA) materials, which requires an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties of GAs and the associated enhancement mechanisms. This review first presents experimental research works related to the mechanical properties of GAs in recent years and identifies the key parameters that dominate the mechanical properties of GAs in different situations. Then, simulation works on the mechanical properties of GAs are reviewed, the deformation mechanisms are discussed, and the advantages and limitations are summarized. Finally, an outlook on the potential directions and main challenges is provided for future studies in the mechanical properties of GA materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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18 pages, 3087 KiB

Open AccessReview

On the Various Numerical Techniques for the Optimization of Bone Scaffold

by Jiongyi Wu, Youwei Zhang, Yongtao Lyu and Liangliang Cheng

Materials 2023, 16(3), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030974 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

As the application of bone scaffolds becomes more and more widespread, the requirements for the high performance of bone scaffolds are also increasing. The stiffness and porosity of porous structures can be adjusted as needed, making them good candidates for repairing damaged bone tissues. However, the development of porous bone structures is limited by traditional manufacturing methods. Today, the development of additive manufacturing technology has made it very convenient to manufacture bionic porous bone structures as needed. In the present paper, the current state-of-the-art optimization techniques for designing the scaffolds and the settings of different optimization methods are introduced. Additionally, various design methods for bone scaffolds are reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges in designing high performance bone scaffolds and the future developments of bone scaffolds are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Physical Functions of Materials/Structures)

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