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Applied Sciences
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Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration...
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Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 3257

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Angela Russo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, CE, Italy
Interests: composite materials; damage tolerance; delamination; buckling; fracture mechanics; fatigue; crack bridging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrea Sellitto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, CE, Italy
Interests: composite materials; FEM; additive manufacturing; metallic structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Composite structures represent a synergy of different components, combining distinctive properties that offer superior strength and lightweight compared to conventional materials. In the industrial scenario, our aim is to understand to what extent structures can be optimized to deal with operational stresses while ensuring high performance and durability. A crucial aspect is the adoption of a damage-tolerant design approach. Indeed, accounting for potential damages is essential to ensuring the safety and duration of structures, especially in challenging operational environments.

This Special Issue aims to explore innovative methodologies and strategies that enable composite structures to maintain their structural integrity despite damages. Accurate experiments and advanced computational methodologies are crucial in the process of verifying damage propagation. Impacts, operating loads and fatigue are inevitable phenomena in the industrial environment, and understanding how these variables affect the performance of structures is critical to developing resilient and reliable solutions.

Dr. Angela Russo
Dr. Andrea Sellitto
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

  • composite materials
  • damage tolerant design
  • damage propagation
  • fatigue
  • lightweighting
  • computational methodologies
  • experimental tests

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2266 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Wear Properties of a New CAD/CAM Dental Resin Composite in a Chewing Simulation Test Opposing Itself
by Camillo D’Arcangelo, Mirco Vadini, Lorenzo Vanini, Giuseppe Daniele Rondoni, Edoardo Sorrentino and Francesco De Angelis
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 5023; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15095023 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 197
Abstract
Wear resistance is of paramount importance for the long-term success of dental materials, especially when they are used for extensive indirect restorations in full-mouth rehabilitations. The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate the two-body wear resistance of a new and recently introduced [...] Read more.
Wear resistance is of paramount importance for the long-term success of dental materials, especially when they are used for extensive indirect restorations in full-mouth rehabilitations. The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate the two-body wear resistance of a new and recently introduced CAD/CAM resin composite disc (Ena Cad, Micerium S.pA.), to compare it to the wear resistance of other two well-known and already marketed CAD/CAM composites (Brilliant Crios, Coltene/Whaledent AG; Grandio disc, Voco Gmbh) and to a conventional type 3 gold alloy (Aurocast 8, Nobil-Metal). Ten cylindrical specimens (diameter 8 mm, height 6 mm) were manufactured with each material and subjected to a two-body wear test in a dual-axis chewing simulator, performing 120,000 chewing cycles opposing antagonists (2-mm-diameter round tip) made out of the same corresponding materials. The total vertical wear (mm) and the total volumetric loss (mm3) for each sample/antagonist pair were calculated. Representative scanning electron microscope images were also taken. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance tests. No statistically significant differences were recorded among the wear properties of the restorative materials under investigation. The Ena Cad disc showed a wear resistance comparable to the type 3 gold alloy and to the already marketed Brilliant Crios and Grandio disc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches)
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21 pages, 10159 KiB  
Article
Reproducibility Assessment of Zirconia-Based Ceramics Fabricated out of Nanopowders by Electroconsolidation Method
by Miroslaw Rucki, Edvin Hevorkian, Jolanta Natalia Latosińska, Vasyl Kolodnitskyi, Leszek Chalko, Dmitrij Morozow, Waldemar Samociuk, Jonas Matijosius, Milan Masař and Tomasz Ryba
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4955; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094955 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
The repeatability of the material properties is required to ensure the proper performance of the engineered systems that are constructed using these materials. In this paper, an analysis of the sintered ceria-stabilized zirconia is presented. This material exhibited high mechanical properties, due to [...] Read more.
The repeatability of the material properties is required to ensure the proper performance of the engineered systems that are constructed using these materials. In this paper, an analysis of the sintered ceria-stabilized zirconia is presented. This material exhibited high mechanical properties, due to the mechanism of strengthening via phase transition. The reproducibility was assessed for the material made out of a starting powder produced by fluoride salt precipitation. To fabricate specimens, a novel electroconsolidation method was used, ensuring a high heating rate, relatively low sintering temperatures, and short holding time. Weibull analysis was performed considering the bending strength of specimens and their microhardness. The obtained values of both shape parameter m and scale parameter σ0 indicated that the ZrO2 stabilized with 5 wt.% CeO2 samples exhibited low variability of strength and hardness. The experimental evidence and statistical analysis reveal an influence of the m-phase, which has lower symmetry and therefore its addition makes ceramic weaker and softer. Furthermore, its progressive replacement by the t-phase, which has higher symmetry, makes ceramic both harder and stronger. Reducing the mol% increases the risk of the appearance of the highest addition of the monoclinic phase; increasing it is unfavorable from the point of view of the sintering process. Statistical and manufacturing evidence suggests that the choice of 5%/mol is optimal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches)
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23 pages, 774 KiB  
Article
Damage Behaviour of Quasi-Brittle Composites: Mathematical and Computational Aspects
by Jiří Vala and Jiří Tomáš
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4214; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084214 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 241
Abstract
In the present paper, an evaluation of the damage behaviour of quasi-brittle composites exposed to mechanical, thermal, and other loads is studied by means of viscoelastic and/or viscoplastic material models, applying some non-local regularisation techniques to the initiation and development of damages. The [...] Read more.
In the present paper, an evaluation of the damage behaviour of quasi-brittle composites exposed to mechanical, thermal, and other loads is studied by means of viscoelastic and/or viscoplastic material models, applying some non-local regularisation techniques to the initiation and development of damages. The methods above are presented as a strong tool for a deeper understanding of material structures in miscellaneous engineering disciplines like civil, mechanical, and many others. Nevertheless, all of the software packages reflect certain compromises between the need for effective computational tools, with parameters obtained from inexpensive experiments, within the possibilities and the complexity of both physical and geometrical descriptions of structure deformation within processes. The article is devoted to the mathematical aspects regarding a considerably wide class of computational modelling problems, emphasising the following ones: (i) the existence and the uniqueness of solutions of engineering problems formulated in terms of the deterministic initial and boundary value problems of partial differential equations theory; (ii) the problems of convergence of computational algorithms applied to (i). Both aspects have numerous references to possible generalisations and investigations connected with open problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches)
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14 pages, 3768 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the Performance of Layered Wood Composites Through the Non-Food Application of Dietary Fiber in Their Bonding Matrix
by Marta Wronka, Anita Wronka and Grzegorz Kowaluk
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11780; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411780 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 787
Abstract
Rye flour is a commonly used filler in plywood production, made from finely ground rye grains. It enhances glue viscosity, ensuring even distribution and better adhesion, which improves the plywood’s mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and resistance to warping. Additionally, rye flour increases the [...] Read more.
Rye flour is a commonly used filler in plywood production, made from finely ground rye grains. It enhances glue viscosity, ensuring even distribution and better adhesion, which improves the plywood’s mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and resistance to warping. Additionally, rye flour increases the plywood’s strength and durability, making it more resistant to mechanical damage and external factors. Its affordability and availability further support its widespread use in plywood production. However, the growing availability of new raw materials has sparked interest in alternative fillers, especially considering food waste challenges caused by low demand or poor household management. This study explores the potential of spirulina, bamboo flour, lupine flour, and coconut flour as alternative fillers to rye flour, being part of the food chain, in three-layer plywood production. Plywood panels were manufactured using birch and pine veneers, urea-formaldehyde resin, and varying filler contents (10, 15, and 20 parts by weight/pbw). Key mechanical properties were evaluated, including modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), shear strength, density profile, and filler water absorption. The highest MOE for hardwood plywood was observed with coconut flour (20 pbw, 17,228 N mm−2). Conversely, the lowest MOE values were recorded for coniferous plywood with spirulina (8440 N mm−2). For MOR, the best performance in softwood was achieved using lupine flour (10 pbw, 113 N mm−2), while coconut flour yielded the highest MOR in hardwood plywood (20 pbw, 177 N mm−2). Spirulina exhibited the lowest MOR (72 N mm−2, 15 pbw). Shear strength peaked with lupine and coconut flour. The filler composition determines adhesive properties and bond performance through water absorption, structural interactions, and filler content optimization. These findings emphasize the potential for fine-tuning alternative fillers to achieve desired mechanical performance, ensuring sustainable and efficient plywood production. These also demonstrate the potential of certain alternative fillers, particularly coconut and lupine flours, excluded from the food value chain, in improving specific properties of plywood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches)
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13 pages, 7015 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Fatigue Performance of Spot-Welded Steel T-Profiles Under Cyclic Torsional Loading
by Murat Demiral and Ferhat Kadioglu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(22), 10607; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210607 - 18 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Steel T-profiles with the spot-welding manufacturing process are extensively used in various sectors such as construction, automotive, renewable energy, etc., due to their versatility and reliability. These profiles are exposed to various loading modes during their service life, which include axial, bending, shear, [...] Read more.
Steel T-profiles with the spot-welding manufacturing process are extensively used in various sectors such as construction, automotive, renewable energy, etc., due to their versatility and reliability. These profiles are exposed to various loading modes during their service life, which include axial, bending, shear, torsional, or combinations thereof. This paper investigates the fatigue performance of a spot-welded T-profile assembly subjected to torsional cyclic loading. The extended finite element method (XFEM) analysis was performed to simulate the intricate behavior of spot welds under the loading, elucidating critical areas prone to fatigue initiation and propagation especially around the spot welds. The simulation results were compared with previously obtained experimental results. Both results are consistent. The effects of various parameters, including the spot-weld diameters, the amount of torque applied, thickness of the profile parts, and the presence of base part, on the fatigue performance of the assembly were studied critically. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving the Performance of Composite and Hybrid Material Structures: Exploration of Damage Behavior and Innovative Approaches)
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