Composite Structures Reinforced by Nano Materials: Applications, Theories and Experiments

Dear Colleagues,

Composite materials have become the center of attention in both applied research and basic science, because of their great technological potential in producing new materials, which can outperform materials available today. Possible combinations of matrices, reinforcing agents and technological procedures not only provide extensive options for designers, but also extend research fields required to achieve all requested information for safe designs. Research goals and scopes in this field generally focus on developing materials with superior chemical, physical, and thermo mechanical characteristics through the addition of nano materials. It is well-known that the addition of small quantities of nanoparticle reinforcement drastically improves the stiffness and strength of composite materials. The combination of various material types results in a wide variety of composites, mainly distinguished by their constitution. Therefore, the most prominent instants include ceramic matrix composites (CMC), metal matrix composites (MMC) and polymer matrix composites (PMC). In the above cases, composite materials comprise a matrix containing a dispersed phase of one or more other materials. This dispersed phase can exist in various morphologies such as platelets, particles, whiskers, or fibers. Ideally, the obtained composite material chemically or physically outperforms pure component phases. Based on the sizes of each constituent, nano/nano-, nano/micro- and micro/micro-composites are distinguished.

This Special Issue aims to solicit recent promising developments in nanomaterial-reinforced composite structures simulation, characterization, and modeling, in terms of both design and manufacturing, including industrial scale and experimental case studies. A rigorous review will be performed on all submitted papers, and they will be published only if they meet the standards of the journal.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following items:

• Composite structures;
• Nanocomposites;
• Biomedical composites;
• Fiber-reinforced composites;
• Manufacturing, processing, properties and performance;
• Physics, chemistry, and mechanics characterization of composites;
• Unidirectional and woven reinforcements;
• Modeling and characterization;
• Numerical simulation of components made by composites;
• Experimental studies;
• Industrial case studies;
• Functional composite materials (including nano-modified materials)

Dr. Babak Safaei
Dr. Zhaoye Qin
Prof. Dr. Tien-Chien Jen
Dr. Rasool Moradi-Dastjerdi
Guest Editors

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