State of the Art and Future Directions in Fracture Mechanics
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanical Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: structural analysis; fracture mechanics; contact mechanics; computational methods; materials science; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fracture mechanics is a cornerstone of structural integrity, continually evolving to address the challenges posed by novel materials and complex loading environments. From its classical foundations, the field is now being reshaped by high-fidelity computational methods, advanced experimental techniques, and data-driven approaches. This Special Issue, "State of the Art and Future Directions in Fracture Mechanics," aims to capture this dynamic progress and highlight the groundbreaking research defining the next chapter of the discipline.
We invite original research and review articles that push the boundaries of fracture mechanics. Contributions are particularly encouraged on topics that bridge traditional theory with modern innovation. The integration of computational modeling with experimental validation is a key focus, as is the exploration of failure in emerging material systems.
This Special Issue calls for original, high-quality research articles that represent the current state of the art. While comprehensive review articles are also welcome, the primary focus is on presenting novel findings and significant methodological advancements that define the forefront of the field.
Topics of Interest:
This Special Issue seeks to publish high-quality research on, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Advanced Computational Frameworks: Phase-field modeling, peridynamics, extended/generalized finite element methods (XFEM/GFEM), and cohesive zone models.
- Cutting-Edge Experimental Mechanics: In situ mechanical testing (SEM, TEM, synchrotron), digital image correlation (DIC), acoustic emission, and other full-field measurement techniques.
- Fracture in Advanced Materials and Processes: Damage tolerance of additively manufactured components, progressive damage in composites and heterogeneous materials, and failure of architected materials and metamaterials.
- Data-Driven and Machine Learning Approaches: Surrogate modeling, crack path prediction, material property identification, and uncertainty quantification in fracture.
- Multiscale Fracture Phenomena: Micro- and nanoscale deformation and toughening mechanisms, and novel multiscale modeling techniques bridging atomistic to continuum scales.
- Digital Twins for Fracture Prognostics:Research dedicated to the development, updating, and validation of digital twin frameworks for predicting fatigue life, remaining useful life, and structural integrity.
Dr. Georgios I. Giannopoulos
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- fracture mechanics
- computational mechanics
- experimental mechanics
- additive manufacturing
- composite materials
- multiscale modeling
- phase-field modeling
- digital image correlation (DIC)
- machine learning
- in situ testing
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