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Modeling and Simulation of Composite Materials and Structures: 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 1155

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor, No. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Interests: mechanics of composite materials; finite element analysis; numerical modeling; micromechanics; mechanical testing; temperature effects on composites; effects of humidity absorption on composites
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to novel methods for the analytical modeling and numerical simulation of composite materials and structures. Macroscopic modeling is usually used to model composite structures for which the assigned material is modeled as an orthotropic or anisotropic material. On the other hand, microscopic modeling, which involves the separate modeling of the matrix, fibers and interface, is suitable for approaching homogenization theories and for analyzing the residual thermal stresses occurring at interfaces under the action of temperature variations. This Special Issue also intends to showcase works describing the nanoscale modeling and simulation of nanocomposites and nanostructures. Mixed modeling techniques can also be approached by modeling a discrete number of orthotropic or anisotropic layers.

Lightweight composite structures have been of great interest in recent years, and techniques for their optimization and models of their performance have been a focus of researchers worldwide.

Considering that experimental results are used to validate analytical or numerical models, research that uses combined approaches is also welcomed.

This Special Issue is not limited to the modeling and simulation of the stresses and strains developed in composite structures under static or dynamic loadings. We also expect to receive works on the loss of stability of composite structures and the simulation of layer rupture and delamination. Approaches could also involve the analysis of the effects of temperature or humidity absorption or the estimation of mechanical, electrical or magnetic properties using homogenization models.

Prof. Dr. Camelia Cerbu
Guest Editor

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

  • composite materials
  • numerical modeling
  • simulation model
  • finite element analysis
  • optimization
  • stresses and strains
  • thermal stresses
  • macroscopic model
  • micromechanical simulations
  • nanoscale model
  • fiber–matrix interface
  • homogenization models
  • stability
  • crush analysis
  • delamination
  • failure models
  • stability analysis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 21567 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Optimization and Design of an Electric Vehicle Battery Box Side Profile for Lightweight and Crashworthiness Using a Novel Hybrid Structure
by Muhammet Arslan and Mehmet İhsan Karamangil
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15042037 - 15 Feb 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Lightweighting is a critical focus in the transportation sector, directly enhancing efficiency and significantly reducing costs. In electric vehicle (EV) design, the body surrounding the battery must effectively absorb impact, especially during crashes. This study aims to improve the crash performance of the [...] Read more.
Lightweighting is a critical focus in the transportation sector, directly enhancing efficiency and significantly reducing costs. In electric vehicle (EV) design, the body surrounding the battery must effectively absorb impact, especially during crashes. This study aims to improve the crash performance of the side profiles in the battery box of an M1 category vehicle. It is based on the crash test in Annex 8D of the ECE R100 regulation. In this study, the safe displacement at which the battery will not deform is set as 20 mm, and the maximum force and energy absorption at this displacement are compared. In total, 33 different electric and hybrid vehicle models were benchmarked in this study. L-shaped geometry and aluminum materials are generally preferred; this study focuses on using glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultruded profiles to make batteries more durable and lighter. The GF800 material was selected for its superior mechanical strength among glass fiber composites. A virtual tensile test verified its properties. A unique hybrid model combining honeycomb and auxetic geometries was developed, showing a crash performance improvement of ~360% over honeycomb structures and ~88% over auxetic structures. Through multi-objective optimization using artificial neural networks (ANNs), 27 models were analyzed, leading to an optimized design. The final design resulted in the battery box side profile being 23.9% lighter and 38.6% cheaper, and exhibiting a performance 3% higher. This study demonstrates significant advancements in EV safety and cost efficiency, highlighting the practical benefits of innovative material and design approaches. Full article
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