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Applied Sciences
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Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials
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Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 1650

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaodong Shi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Interests: NDE; sensor; image processing; sginal
Prof. Dr. Michel Darmon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Research on Software-Intensive Technologies (LIST), Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), Paris-Saclay University, F-91120 Palaiseau, France
Interests: ultrasonics; nondestructive testing; wave propagation in solids and complex media; acoustic/elastic wave scattering and diffraction; surface acoustic waves; ray tracing; high frequency modelling; transducers; acoustic signal processing; noise analysis; artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete and masonry, composite wood, reinforced plastics, ceramics, metal matrix composites, advanced composite materials, laminates, and so on.

Advancements in composite materials have revolutionized industries such as aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering, where high performance and reliability are crucial. Ensuring the integrity of these materials is essential, especially in critical applications that directly impact safety and success. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies have rapidly evolved, offering effective solutions for the inspection and monitoring of these advanced materials without causing damage. Coupled with intelligent monitoring systems, such as those utilizing data analytics and artificial intelligence, these technologies are key to improving the quality and reliability of composite components.

 This Special Issue invites researchers, engineers, and practitioners to submit original research, reviews, and practical case studies focused on the application of NDE and intelligent monitoring for composite materials. Both theoretical and practical contributions are encouraged, with the aim of advancing the field and offering valuable insights to the wider engineering community.

Dr. Xiaodong Shi
Prof. Dr. Michel Darmon
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

  • nondestructive evaluation (NDE)
  • composite materials
  • intelligent monitoring systems

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4358 KiB  
Article
Damage Indicators for Structural Monitoring of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Strengthened Concrete Structures Based on Manifold Invariance Defined on Latent Space of Deep Autoencoders
by Javier Montes, Juan Pérez and Ricardo Perera
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 5897; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15115897 - 23 May 2025
Abstract
Deep learning approaches based on autoencoders have been widely used for structural monitoring. Traditional approaches of autoencoders based on reconstruction errors involve limitations, since they do not exploit their hierarchical nature, and only healthy data are used for training. In this work, some [...] Read more.
Deep learning approaches based on autoencoders have been widely used for structural monitoring. Traditional approaches of autoencoders based on reconstruction errors involve limitations, since they do not exploit their hierarchical nature, and only healthy data are used for training. In this work, some health indicators, based on manifold invariance through the encoding procedure, were built for the monitoring of concrete structures strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymers by directly exploring the latent space representation of the input data to a deep autoencoder. Latent representations of experimental observations of different classes were used for the learning of the network, delimiting areas in a low-dimensional space. New synthetic data with their variations, generated with a variational autoencoder, were encompassed to the trained autoencoder. The proposed method was verified on raw electromechanical impedance spectra obtained from lead zirconate titanate sensors bonded on a specimen subjected to different loading stages. The results of this research demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials)
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16 pages, 16221 KiB  
Article
Advancing Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation and Strategic Management Through Nondestructive Testing at Toll Stations
by Konstantinos Gkyrtis, Christina Plati and Andreas Loizos
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5304; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105304 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 146
Abstract
In contrast to maintaining asphalt pavements, maintaining healthy and functional concrete pavements is a much greater challenge due to the especially brittle nature of concrete, which may require a more complex rehabilitation plan. Thanks to nondestructive testing, noninvasive on-site inspections can be carried [...] Read more.
In contrast to maintaining asphalt pavements, maintaining healthy and functional concrete pavements is a much greater challenge due to the especially brittle nature of concrete, which may require a more complex rehabilitation plan. Thanks to nondestructive testing, noninvasive on-site inspections can be carried out to assess a pavement’s condition, with the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) being the most representative example. In this study, five toll stations with concrete pavements in operation, for which no long-term monitoring protocols existed yet, were evaluated mainly with deflectometric tests using the FWD. The objective of the study was to propose a methodological framework to support responsible decision-makers in the strategic management of concrete pavements at toll stations. To meet this aim, a test campaign was organized to evaluate the pavement condition of individual slabs or lanes, assess the durability of the slabs, and determine the efficiency of load transfer across joints and cracks. As a key finding, pavement slab deflections were found to exhibit a considerable range; in particular, a range of 50–1450 μm for the maximum deflection of the FWD was observed. This finding stimulated a distribution fitting analysis to estimate characteristic values and thresholds for common deflection indicators that were validated on the basis of pavement design input data. Finally, the study proceeded with the development of a conceptual approach proposing evaluation criteria for individual slab assessment and the condition mapping of in-service concrete pavements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials)
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25 pages, 12513 KiB  
Article
Script-Based Material and Geometrical Modeling of Steel–Concrete Composite Connections for Comprehensive Analysis Under Varied Configurations
by Dániel Gosztola, Péter Grubits, János Szép and Majid Movahedi Rad
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3095; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063095 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
The behavior of steel–concrete composite structures is significantly influenced by the efficiency of the shear connections that link the two materials. This research examines the performance of stud shear connectors, with an emphasis on analyzing the effect of different geometric design parameters. A [...] Read more.
The behavior of steel–concrete composite structures is significantly influenced by the efficiency of the shear connections that link the two materials. This research examines the performance of stud shear connectors, with an emphasis on analyzing the effect of different geometric design parameters. A computational model was created utilizing Python 3.13 to enable thorough digital monitoring of the influence of these parameters on the structural performance of composite connections. Developed within the ABAQUS framework, the model integrates geometric nonlinearity and the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) approach to achieve detailed simulation of structural behavior. Essential design aspects, including stud diameter, stud height, head dimensions, and spacing in both longitudinal and transverse directions, were analyzed. The Python-based parametric model allows for easy modification of design parameters, ensuring efficiency and minimizing modeling errors. The significance of stud diameter changes was analyzed in accordance with Eurocode standards and previous studies. It was found that stud length has a reduced effect on structural performance, particularly when considering the concrete properties used in bridge construction, where compressive failure of the concrete zone is more critical at lower concrete strengths. Additional factors, such as stud head dimensions, were investigated but were found to have minimal effect on the behavior of steel–concrete composite connections. Longitudinal stud spacing emerged as a critical factor influencing structural performance, with optimal results achieved at a spacing of 13d. Spacings of 2d, 3d, and 4d demonstrated overlapping effects, leading to significant performance reductions, as indicated by comparisons of ultimate load and force–displacement responses. For transverse spacing, closer stud arrangements proved effective in reducing the likelihood of slip at the steel–concrete interface, enhancing composite action, and lowering stress concentrations. Additionally, reducing the transverse distance between studs allowed for the use of more shear connectors, increasing redundancy and enhancing performance, especially with grouped-stud connectors (GSCs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials)
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Review

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27 pages, 6827 KiB  
Review
A Review on Design Considerations and Connection Techniques in Modular Composite Construction
by Manivannan Thulasirangan Lakshmidevi, K. S. K. Karthik Reddy, Riyadh Al-Ameri and Bidur Kafle
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5256; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105256 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 543
Abstract
Precast concrete structures have become increasingly popular in the construction industry due to their ability to enhance efficiency, structural soundness, quality, and sustainability. Among these, modular construction has emerged as a transformative approach that fully leverages precast technology by manufacturing 3D modules off-site [...] Read more.
Precast concrete structures have become increasingly popular in the construction industry due to their ability to enhance efficiency, structural soundness, quality, and sustainability. Among these, modular construction has emerged as a transformative approach that fully leverages precast technology by manufacturing 3D modules off-site and assembling them on-site using inter-module connections. This study reviewed current literature trends on precast concrete structures and modular construction, analysing how modular construction distinguishes itself from other precast systems. This review further emphasises the role of composite connections—grouted, bolted, and hybrid systems—critical in ensuring structural integrity, efficiency in load transfer, and seismic resilience in modular construction. Advancements in composite connections have demonstrated significant promise, particularly in seismic performance, with reported energy dissipation improvements of up to 30% in hybrid connection systems. Yet limitations still exist, necessitating improvements in load transfer efficiency, ductility, and reliability under dynamic loads. Additionally, design considerations for modular construction, such as modular configurations, handling stresses, and transportation challenges, are explored to highlight their influence on system performance. This review underscores the feasibility and potential of modular construction in fostering sustainable and resilient infrastructure, as studies indicate that modular construction can reduce project timelines by up to 50% while minimising material waste by approximately 30%. The role of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques and intelligent monitoring systems in assessing and enhancing the lifecycle performance of composite connections is also emphasised. This review further advocates for continued research to refine composite connections and support the broader adoption of modular construction in modern building practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nondestructive Evaluation and Intelligent Monitoring for Composite Materials)
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