Modelling and simulation play fundamental roles in helping us to understand complex systems, predicting their behaviour and supporting engineering design and decision-making. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Modelling, this Special Issue brings together nine research articles that highlight recent advances in modelling methodologies and their applications across structural engineering, advanced materials, energy systems, infrastructure, and space systems.
The first group of contributions focuses on advanced modelling of structures and materials. Yu et al. (Contribution 1) investigate the global buckling behaviour and design of a novel concrete-filled corrugated steel tubular column, demonstrating the application of numerical simulation to an emerging structural system. Wu et al. (Contribution 2) develop a non-Fourier thermoelastic peridynamic model for cracked thin films subjected to short-pulse laser irradiation, providing a nonlocal framework for coupled thermal–mechanical problems involving material discontinuities. Bednarcyk et al. (Contribution 3) present a multiscale modelling framework for thermoplastic matrix composites for cryogenic hydrogen storage, linking material behaviour across multiple length scales to support the development of advanced energy storage systems.
The second theme of this Special Issue concerns virtual modelling, reliability, uncertainty, and multiscale interface analysis. Tian et al. (Contribution 4) propose a virtual modelling framework for the inverse study of mechanical metamaterials with material nonlinearity, illustrating how computational models can facilitate the identification and design of advanced mechanical properties. Ma et al. (Contribution 5) investigate the reliability of thermal barrier coating interfaces under oxidation using a proxy model, highlighting the potential of computationally efficient surrogate models for reliability assessment. Yu et al. (Contribution 6) combine virtual physics-based modelling, uncertainty analysis, and data-driven techniques to investigate the chloride resistance of metakaolin-blended concrete. Li et al. (Contribution 7) present a quasi-representative volume element contact model for rough flange–gasket interfaces and micro-leakage channel characterisation, demonstrating how efficient computational representations can provide valuable insights into multiscale interface phenomena and engineering reliability. Overall, these studies demonstrate the expanding role of modelling beyond forward prediction to include inverse analysis, reliability assessment, uncertainty quantification, multiscale analysis, and design optimisation.
The third theme focuses on model-based approaches for complex engineering systems. Saberi and Abu Qahouq (Contribution 8) develop a model-based framework for lithium-ion battery state-of-charge estimation using a tuning-light discrete-time sliding-mode observer. Their work demonstrates how computational models can support reliable monitoring and control of energy storage systems while maintaining computational efficiency. Vaccino et al. (Contribution 9) introduce a framework for disruption propagation, detection, and repair in deep space habitats. By capturing the interactions between failures and recovery processes in highly constrained environments, this study extends the application of modelling to the emerging challenges of human space exploration.
These contributions reveal the breadth and continuing evolution of modelling and simulation. The studies extend from conventional numerical simulation to virtual and inverse modelling, multiscale and multiphysics approaches, proxy- and uncertainty-aware models, and model-based prediction and decision support. At the same time, they demonstrate the wide applicability of modelling across diverse fields, including civil and mechanical infrastructure, advanced materials, energy storage, sealing systems, and future space habitats.
An important emerging direction highlighted by these studies is the increasing integration of physics-based modelling, data-driven methods, uncertainty quantification, and computationally efficient surrogate models. Such integration offers opportunities to improve predictive capability, reduce computational cost, and better address the uncertainties inherent in real engineering systems. Looking ahead, continued advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins, multiscale simulation, and optimisation are expected to further expand the role of modelling, from analysing existing systems to supporting real-time prediction, design, monitoring, and decision-making.
We sincerely thank all authors for their valuable contributions to this Special Issue and all reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions. We also thank the Editorial Office of Modelling for its support in bringing this collection together. We hope that these contributions will provide useful insights into recent developments in modelling and simulation and stimulate further interdisciplinary research in this rapidly evolving field.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
List of Contributions
- Yu, C.; Duan, S.; Tong, J. Global Buckling Simulation and Design of a Novel Concrete-Filled Corrugated Steel Tubular Column. Modelling 2025, 6, 22.
- Wu, T.; Xue, T.; Wang, Y.; Tamma, K. Non-Fourier Thermoelastic Peridynamic Modeling of Cracked Thin Films Under Short-Pulse Laser Irradiation. Modelling 2025, 6, 68.
- Bednarcyk, B.; Hearley, B.; Pineda, E. Multiscale Modeling of Thermoplastic Matrix Composites for Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage Applications. Modelling 2025, 6, 151.
- Tian, Y.; Feng, Y.; Gao, W. Virtual Modelling Framework-Based Inverse Study for the Mechanical Metamaterials with Material Nonlinearity. Modelling 2025, 6, 24.
- Ma, J.; Wang, A.; Junker, P.; Alshawawreh, A.; Li, Q.; Xu, H.; Xue, R. Reliability Analysis of Interface Oxidation for Thermal Barrier Coating Based on Proxy Model. Modelling 2025, 6, 61.
- Yu, Y.; Gardiner, D.; Sun, J.; Pasupathy, K. Uncertainty-Aware Virtual Physics-Based Chloride Resistance Analysis of Metakaolin-Blended Concrete. Modelling 2026, 7, 16.
- Li, D.; Zhong, Z.; Yang, L.; Yuan, B.; Zhang, Y. Quasi-RVE Contact Modeling of Rough Flange–Gasket Interfaces for Micro-Leakage Channel Geometry Characterization. Modelling 2026, 7, 111.
- Saberi, S.; Abu Qahouq, J. A Model-Based Framework for Lithium-Ion Battery SoC Estimation Using a Tuning-Light Discrete-Time Sliding-Mode Observer. Modelling 2026, 7, 42.
- Vaccino, L.; Lund, A.; Dyke, S.; Azimi, M.; Vallerga, E. HabSim: Modeling Disruptions, Propagation, Detection and Repair in Deep Space Habitats. Modelling 2026, 7, 109.
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