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Applied Sciences
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Application of Fracture Mechanics in Structures
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Application of Fracture Mechanics in Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 1124

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marko Katinić

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Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Slavonski Brod, Trg Ivane Brlić-Mažuranić 2, 35000 Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Interests: fracture mechanics; FEM; structural integrity assessment; vibration; rotordynamics
Prof. Dr. Pejo Konjatić

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Slavonski Brod, 35000 Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Interests: numerical modeling and simulation; optimization of structures; numerical methods; fracture mechanics; fatigue; solid mechanics; statics; strength of materials
Dr. Abílio M. P. De Jesus

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: manufacturing processes; simulation; fracture mechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jesús Toribio

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Guest Editor
Fracture & Structural Integrity Research Group (FSIRG), Campus Viriato, University of Salamanca (USAL) E.P.S., Avda. Requejo 33, 49022 Zamora, Spain
Interests: material characterization; materials; mechanical properties; finite element analysis; mechanical behavior of materials; mechanical testing; stress analysis; materials testing; metals; fracture mechanics; metallurgical engineering; engineering drawing; failure analysis; corrosion testing; finite element method; plasticity; technical drawing; steel corrosion testing; experimental mechanics; computational analysis; micromechanics; corrosion engineering; micromechanics of materials; fractography; corrosion science; steelmaking; material testing; fatigue; fracture strength
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fracture mechanics is a crucial tool for understanding the failure mechanisms of materials and structures, particularly in high-stress or critical applications. This Special Issue aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the latest developments in the application of fracture mechanics to structural engineering. By showcasing cutting-edge research and case studies, the issue will explore how fracture mechanics can be employed to enhance the design, maintenance, and safety of various types of structures. Topics will include both theoretical and practical aspects of fracture behavior, with a focus on advancements in analytical methods, experimental techniques, and real-world applications.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth in materials;
  • Structural integrity assessment and reliability using fracture mechanics;
  • Advanced numerical methods in fracture mechanics analysis;
  • Experimental techniques for fracture analysis in structures;
  • Case studies of fracture mechanics applications in civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering;
  • Failure analysis and damage prediction in structural components;
  • Influence of environmental factors (e.g., temperature and corrosion) on fracture behavior;
  • Application of fracture mechanics in design codes and standards.

Dr. Marko Katinić
Prof. Dr. Pejo Konjatić
Dr. Abílio M. P. De Jesus
Prof. Dr. Jesús Toribio
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

  • fracture mechanics
  • structural integrity
  • fatigue
  • crack growth
  • numerical methods
  • structural design
  • failure analysis
  • experimental techniques
  • damage prediction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 11098 KiB  
Article
Fracture Mechanisms of Electrothermally Fatigued 631 Stainless Steel Fine Wires for Probe Spring Applications
by Chien-Te Huang, Fei-Yi Hung and Kai-Chieh Chang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8572; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158572 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 263
Abstract
This study systematically investigates 50 μm-diameter 631 stainless steel fine wires subjected to both sequential and simultaneous electrothermomechanical loading to simulate probe spring conditions in microelectronic test environments. Under cyclic current loading (~104 A/cm2), the 50 μm 631SS wire maintained [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates 50 μm-diameter 631 stainless steel fine wires subjected to both sequential and simultaneous electrothermomechanical loading to simulate probe spring conditions in microelectronic test environments. Under cyclic current loading (~104 A/cm2), the 50 μm 631SS wire maintained electrical integrity up to 0.30 A for 15,000 cycles. Above 0.35 A, rapid oxide growth and abnormal grain coarsening resulted in surface embrittlement and mechanical degradation. Current-assisted tensile testing revealed a transition from recovery-dominated behavior at ≤0.20 A to significant thermal softening and ductility loss at ≥0.25 A, corresponding to a threshold temperature of approximately 200 °C. These results establish the endurance limit of 631 stainless steel wire under coupled thermal–mechanical–electrical stress and clarify the roles of Joule heating, oxidation, and microstructural evolution in electrical fatigue resistance. A degradation map is proposed to inform design margins and operational constraints for fatigue-tolerant, electrically stable interconnects in high-reliability probe spring applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fracture Mechanics in Structures)
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19 pages, 7948 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Fracture Mechanics Parameters for Wrought and SLM-Produced Ti-6Al-7Nb Alloy
by Ivan Gelo, Dražan Kozak, Nenad Gubeljak, Tomaž Vuherer, Pejo Konjatić and Marko Katinić
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8308; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158308 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 222
Abstract
The research presented in this paper is based on the need for personalized medical implants, whose serial production is impossible, so the need for production process adjustments is inevitable. Conventional production technologies usually set geometrical limitations and generate a lot of waste material, [...] Read more.
The research presented in this paper is based on the need for personalized medical implants, whose serial production is impossible, so the need for production process adjustments is inevitable. Conventional production technologies usually set geometrical limitations and generate a lot of waste material, which leads to great expenses, especially when the material used for production is an expensive Ti alloy. Additive technologies offer the possibility to produce a product almost without waste material and geometrical limitations. Nevertheless, the methods developed for additive production using metal powder are not significantly used in biomedicine because there is insufficient data published regarding the properties of additively produced parts, especially from the fatigue and fracture standpoint. The aim of this research is the experimental determination of fracture mechanics properties of additively produced parts and their comparison with the properties of parts produced by conventional technologies. Drawing is the first production process in the comparison, and the second one is selective laser melting (SLM). The Ti-alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb, used for medical implants, was selected for this research. Experimental testing was performed in order to determine ΔKth fracture mechanics parameters and resistance curves according to ASTM E1820. Test specimen dimensioning and the experiments were carried out according to the respective standards. For the drawn test specimen, the value obtained was ΔKth = 3.84 MPam0.5, and the fracture toughness was Kc = 84 MPam0.5, while for SLM produced test specimens the values were ΔKth = 4.53 MPam0.5, and Kc = 21.9 MPam0.5. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fracture Mechanics in Structures)
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15 pages, 13057 KiB  
Article
Hydrogen Embrittlement and Cohesive Behavior of an Ultrahigh-Strength Lath Martensitic Steel of Tendon Bars for Structural Engineering
by Patricia Santos, Andrés Valiente and Mihaela Iordachescu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 7998; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15147998 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
This paper assesses experimentally and theoretically the hydrogen-assisted cracking sensitivity of an ultrahigh-strength lath martensitic steel, recently used to manufacture tendon rods for structural engineering. The experimental values of the J-integral were obtained by tensile testing up to failure precracked SENT specimens in [...] Read more.
This paper assesses experimentally and theoretically the hydrogen-assisted cracking sensitivity of an ultrahigh-strength lath martensitic steel, recently used to manufacture tendon rods for structural engineering. The experimental values of the J-integral were obtained by tensile testing up to failure precracked SENT specimens in air, as an inert environment and in a thiocyanate aqueous solution, as a hydrogen-promoter medium. In parallel, the theoretical resources necessary to apply the Dugdale cohesive model to the SENT specimen were developed from the Green function in order to predict the J-integral dependency on the applied load and the crack size, with the cohesive resistance being the only material constant concerning fracture. The comparison of theoretical and experimental results strongly supports the premise that the cohesive crack accurately models the effect of the mechanisms by which the examined steel opposes crack propagation, both when in hydrogen-free and -embrittled conditions. The identification of experimental and theoretical limit values respectively involving a post-small-scale-yielding regime and unstable extension of the cohesive zone allowed for the value of the cohesive resistance to be determined, its condition as a material constant in hydrogen-free medium confirmed, and its strong decrease with hydrogen exposure revealed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fracture Mechanics in Structures)
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