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Mechanics of Construction Materials and Structures: Theory and Computational Issues

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 1649

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: composite materials; Innovative techniques for retrofitting applications; structural analysis; tsunami fragility; concrete materials; concrete with plastic waste aggregates; structural health monitoring of existing buildings

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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: composite materials; innovative techniques for retrofitting applications; structural analysis; tsunami fragility; concrete materials; concrete with plastic waste aggregates; structural health monitoring; seismic analysis; structural modeling; computational analysis; dissipation systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mechanics in construction materials and structures assumes a primary interest among researchers of the scientific community, driven by both theoretical advancements and computational innovations. Utilizing sophisticated analytical tools to understand and predict the constitutive mechanical behavior of construction materials and structures is fundamental for the design, safety, and durability of built environments. These insights are crucial for developing more resilient, sustainable, and efficient construction practices.

In conjunction with theoretical advancements, high-performance computing methods are spreading to facilitate more accurate and efficient simulations of complex structural behaviors. These computational tools enable modeling of the non-linear responses of innovative construction materials and composite materials, as well as structures and infrastructures with various configurations, under various loading conditions. Theoretical models guide computational simulations, ensuring their accuracy and relevance, while computational results validate and refine theoretical approaches, accounting for complex phenomena such as material non-linearities, geometric non­linearities, and boundary condition changes. This synergy is particularly evident in the study of new materials, such as high-performance concrete, advanced composites for retrofitting applications, and smart materials, which require both innovative theoretical frameworks and robust computational tools for their analysis and application.

This Special Issue on “Mechanics of Construction Materials and Structures: Theory and Computation" aims to bring together recent research and developments in this dynamic field. We invite submissions that explore a broad range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced constitutive modeling of innovative materials;
  • Multi-scale and multi-physics analysis of material behavior;
  • Failure analysis and fracture mechanics in construction materials;
  • Micro or macro modeling of retrofitted structural members and buildings, including advanced modeling approaches like finite element methods (FEMs) or discrete element methods (DEMs);
  • Applications of different computational methods for dynamic or static analysis;
  • Proposal of new theoretical formulations for structure and infrastructure design;
  • Case studies of theoretical and computational mechanics in construction projects;
  • Integration of experimental data with computational models;
  • Applications of machine learning and AI in mechanics analysis.

Dr. Maria Concetta Oddo
Prof. Dr. Liborio Cavaleri
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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

  • retrofitting
  • FEM
  • simulations
  • buildings
  • innovative materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 8442 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Phase-Field and Intrinsic Cohesive Zone Models for Fracture Simulations in Multiphase Materials with Interfaces: Investigation of the Influence of the Microstructure on the Fracture Properties
by Rasoul Najafi Koopas, Shahed Rezaei, Natalie Rauter, Richard Ostwald and Rolf Lammering
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010160 - 27 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1277
Abstract
This study evaluates four widely used fracture simulation methods, comparing their computational expenses and implementation complexities within the finite element (FE) framework when employed on heterogeneous solids. Fracture methods considered encompass the intrinsic cohesive zone model (CZM) using zero-thickness cohesive interface elements (CIEs), [...] Read more.
This study evaluates four widely used fracture simulation methods, comparing their computational expenses and implementation complexities within the finite element (FE) framework when employed on heterogeneous solids. Fracture methods considered encompass the intrinsic cohesive zone model (CZM) using zero-thickness cohesive interface elements (CIEs), the standard phase-field fracture (SPFM) approach, the cohesive phase-field fracture (CPFM) approach, and an innovative hybrid model. The hybrid approach combines the CPFM fracture method with the CZM, specifically applying the CZM within the interface zone. The finite element model studied is characterized by three specific phases: inclusions, matrix, and the interface zone. This case study serves as a potential template for meso- or micro-level simulations involving a variety of composite materials. The thorough assessment of these modeling techniques indicates that the CPFM approach stands out as the most effective computational model, provided that the thickness of the interface zone is not significantly smaller than that of the other phases. In materials like concrete, which contain interfaces within their microstructure, the interface thickness is notably small when compared to other phases. This leads to the hybrid model standing as the most authentic finite element model, utilizing CIEs within the interface to simulate interface debonding. A significant finding from this investigation is that within the CPFM method, for a specific interface thickness, convergence with the hybrid model can be observed. This suggests that the CPFM fracture method could serve as a unified fracture approach for multiphase materials when a specific interfacial thickness is used. In addition, this research provides valuable insights that can advance efforts to fine-tune material microstructures. An investigation of the influence of interfacial material properties, voids, and the spatial arrangement of inclusions shows a pronounced effect of these parameters on the fracture toughness of the material. Full article
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