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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 4081

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zeljko Tukovic

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: finite volume method; computational fluid dynamics; fluid-structure interaction

Dr. Tomislav Maric

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Guest Editor

Mathematical Modeling and Analysis, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Interests: volume of fluid; level set; front tracking; two-phase flow; unstructured meshes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to present recent advancements and cutting-edge research focused on computational methods and numerical analysis applied specifically to mechanical engineering problems. The scope encompasses the development, validation, and application of numerical techniques such as finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, boundary element methods, meshless methods, optimization algorithms, and machine learning-based numerical approaches. Papers exploring innovative solutions to challenging mechanical problems—including structural dynamics, thermal analysis, fluid mechanics, materials characterization, and design optimization are welcomed. Emphasis is placed on studies demonstrating novel methodologies, improvements in computational efficiency, and accuracy enhancement. Contributions highlighting practical engineering applications and the integration of computational methods with experimental validation are particularly encouraged. The Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, pushing forward the frontiers of mechanical engineering through advanced computational strategies.

This Special Issue will emphasize innovation by showcasing advanced numerical methods, intelligent algorithms, and data-driven modeling approaches that are redefining how mechanical systems are analyzed, optimized, and controlled. It will highlight research that integrates machine learning with classical computational mechanics, leverages high-performance computing, and addresses multi-physics and multi-scale problems. The impact of this Issue lies in its ability to directly address critical challenges in mechanical engineering, such as reducing design cycles, improving system reliability, enabling real-time simulation, and promoting sustainable technologies.

This Special Issue is intended for a broad and interdisciplinary audience, including academic researchers developing novel numerical methods and computational models; industry professionals and engineers applying advanced simulations to real-world mechanical systems; and software developers and computational scientists working at the intersection of mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, and computer science. It is also relevant to R&D teams in aerospace, automotive, energy, manufacturing, and biomedical sectors seeking innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges through high-fidelity simulation, design automation, and digital twin technologies.

Prof. Dr. Zeljko Tukovic
Dr. Tomislav Maric
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

numerical analysis
computational mechanics
finite element analysis (FEA)
computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
heat and mass transfer
multi-physics modeling
mesh-free methods
optimization techniques
fluid-structure interaction
machine learning in engineering
dynamics and control
applied mathematics in engineering

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 6530 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Drive Side Pressure Angle and Addendum on Mesh Stiffness of the Gears with Low and High Contact Ratios

by Nurullah Baris Sandikci, Ozdes Cermik and Oguz Dogan

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2755; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062755 - 13 Mar 2026

Viewed by 304

Abstract

Gears are one of the most important machine elements widely used to transmit motion and power in various machines. The gear tooth stiffness has a significant impact on the load distribution, vibration characteristics, and overall efficiency of gear systems. Therefore, accurate analysis of tooth stiffness is crucial for optimizing gear performance and ensuring reliable operation. In this study, the effects of geometric parameters on single tooth stiffness (STS) and time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) of involute spur gears are investigated numerically. The gear design parameters, such as drive side pressure angle (DSPA) (20°, 25°, 30°), addendum (1–1.5 × module), and dedendum (1.25–1.7 × module), are varied. Gear configurations with both low contact ratio (LCR) and high contact ratio (HCR) are evaluated. Parametric models are first developed using MATLAB, and then 3D CAD models are created in CATIA for static structural analysis in ANSYS Workbench. The results indicate that increasing the pressure angle enhances stiffness in the tooth root region, whereas the effect is less significant near the tooth tip. Increasing the addendum length generally reduces stiffness. In some cases, a rise in contact ratio results in up to a 25% increase in mesh stiffness. These findings demonstrate that single tooth and mesh stiffness can be optimized through precise control of gear geometry. Ultimately, the study provides valuable insights for improving gear performance and durability through informed design choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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23 pages, 6796 KB

Open AccessArticle

Finite-Difference Analysis of a Quasi-3D Wave-Driven Flow Model: Stability, Grid Structure and Parameter Sensitivity

by Gabriela Gic-Grusza and Piotr Szeląg

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041822 - 12 Feb 2026

Viewed by 363

Abstract

Wave-driven free-surface flows pose numerical challenges due to tensorial radiation stress forcing, anisotropic diffusion, and strong sensitivity to closure parameters. This paper investigates the numerical behavior of a quasi-3D wave-driven flow model using a coupled depth-integrated (2D) solver with a diagnostic three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction employed for consistency verification to evaluate the validity of dimensional reduction. The scheme is implemented on a staggered Arakawa C-grid with a terrain-following vertical coordinate and explicit pseudo-time-stepping, which enables the direct assessment of stability limits. A reference experiment and systematic sensitivity tests are performed for three idealized bathymetries of increasing complexity. Bottom friction primarily controls the free-surface response, with critical thresholds (e.g.,

f ≳ 0.03

) identified via the free-surface displacement Z as markers for the onset of numerical stiffness. Horizontal eddy viscosity

N_{h}

has a weak influence on depth-integrated transport over most of the tested range, whereas vertical eddy viscosity

N_{v}

governs both transport magnitude and stability through the vertical diffusion constraint, acting as the primary bottleneck for computational efficiency. A stability map in the

(N_{v}, Δ t, N_{z})

space is provided to delineate stable, marginal, and unstable regimes identifying an optimal vertical resolution of

N_{z} \approx 10

for coastal applications. Grid resolution experiments quantify convergence trends and show that sensitivity increases with bathymetric complexity, revealing that bathymetric aliasing in multi-bar systems can lead to errors of up to 20% if gradients are under-resolved. Finally, a consistent set of diagnostic metrics is proposed for comparing 2D solutions with their vertically resolved counterparts, establishing a validity envelope where 2D models remain reliable versus regimes where explicit vertical shear resolution is mandatory. The results provide a practical roadmap for parameter selection, ensuring numerical robustness in complex, mechanically forced free-surface CFD applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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28 pages, 10415 KB

Open AccessArticle

SPH Simulation of Molten-Fluid Flows with a Plastic Surface Skin: A Lava-Flow-Oriented Model Study

by Shingo Tomita, Takuma Sato, Satoshi Murakami, Joe Yoshikawa, Makoto Sugimoto, Hisaya Komen and Masaya Shigeta

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041716 - 9 Feb 2026

Viewed by 427

Abstract

Lava flows represent complex thermofluid phenomena in which surface cooling leads to the formation of a solidified surface layer. Understanding the influence of such a surface layer on fluid flow is an important issue in lava flow modeling. It also shares essential characteristics with a wide range of engineering problems involving surface solidification. However, the role of plastic surface skin in controlling flow deceleration and stopping behavior has not been sufficiently clarified in existing models. In this study, two-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of surface skin formation on lava flow dynamics. The temperature dependence of viscosity was introduced to reproduce a plastic surface skin. The skin was represented as a low-temperature, high-viscosity region. Comparisons with simulations without surface skin formation demonstrated that the surface skin exhibits a suppressive effect on the flow. This behavior was consistent with qualitative observations of flowing lava. It was also found that this surface skin caused the successive deceleration characteristic in Bingham fluids. As a result, both the flow velocity and the flowing distance are affected. These results suggest that accurate lava flow simulations require models that incorporate both surface skin effects and non-Newtonian behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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18 pages, 5637 KB

Open AccessArticle

Johnson–Cook vs. Ductile Damage Material Models: A Comparative Study of Metal Fracture Prediction

by Hasan Al-Rifaie and Naftal Ngughu

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1363; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031363 - 29 Jan 2026

Viewed by 739

Abstract

This study presents a comparative assessment of the Johnson–Cook (J-C) and Ductile Damage (DD) material models, evaluating their capability to replicate the tensile behavior and fracture development in ductile metals. Numerical models of AL6063-T4 aluminium and A36 steel dog-bone specimens with two different thicknesses were developed in ABAQUS to assess force–displacement response, stress–strain characteristics, and crack evolution under quasi-static loading. Results showed that specimen thickness directly doubled load capacity, while both models captured the overall elastic and plastic behavior of the materials. A key finding is that the DD model provided yield stresses closely matching the reference material values, whereas the J-C model exhibited higher apparent yields due to its intrinsic strain-rate sensitivity. Differences in damage behavior were also pronounced: the DD model better reproduced the gradual, inclined fracture path in aluminium, while the J-C model more accurately captured the strong necking-localization response characteristic of steel. Comparisons with experimentally tested specimens further supported these fracture tendencies. By analysing both materials under identical conditions, this work highlights the relative strengths and limitations of the two fracture formulations. The originality of the study lies in its systematic comparison across materials and thicknesses, providing clear guidance for selecting appropriate constitutive models in structural and computational mechanics research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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43 pages, 3654 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Block-Coupled Finite Volume Method for Incompressible Hyperelastic Solids

by Anja Horvat, Philipp Milović, Igor Karšaj and Željko Tuković

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12660; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312660 - 28 Nov 2025

Viewed by 787

Abstract

This work introduces a block-coupled finite volume method for simulating the large-strain deformation of incompressible hyperelastic solids. Conventional displacement-based finite-volume solvers for incompressible materials often exhibit stability and convergence issues, particularly on unstructured meshes and in finite-strain regimes typical of biological tissues. To address these issues, a mixed displacement–pressure formulation is adopted and solved using a block-coupled strategy, enabling simultaneous solution of displacement and pressure increments. This eliminates the need for under-relaxation and improves robustness compared to segregated approaches. The method incorporates several enhancements, including temporally consistent Rhie–Chow interpolation, accurate treatment of traction boundary conditions, and compatibility with a wide range of constitutive models, from linear elasticity to advanced hyperelastic laws such as Holzapfel–Gasser–Ogden and Guccione. Implemented within the solids4Foam toolbox for OpenFOAM, the solver is validated against analytical and finite-element benchmarks across diverse test cases, including uniaxial extension, simple shear, pressurised cylinders, arterial wall, and idealised ventricle inflation. Results demonstrate second-order spatial and temporal accuracy, excellent agreement with reference solutions, and reliable performance in three-dimensional scenarios. The proposed approach establishes a robust foundation for fluid–structure interaction simulations in vascular and soft tissue biomechanics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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19 pages, 3122 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation on the Sealing Performance of Vent Valves in Low-Temperature Marine Environments Based on Thermo-Mechanical Coupling

by Jianxiang Zhang, Wenyong Guo, Hantao Chen, Zhe Wu, Shihao Zhu and Li Yu

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 11103; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011103 - 16 Oct 2025

Viewed by 878

Abstract

This study investigates the sealing performance of marine vent valves in low-temperature environments (−30 °C to −40 °C) via thermo-mechanical coupling analysis. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was selected as the sealing material for its excellent cryogenic toughness, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. The total minimum specific [...] Read more.

q_{t o t a l}

) of PTFE, corrected for marine vibrations (15–60 Hz), was 3.702 MPa. Using ANSYS Workbench 2022, finite element simulations of a DN200 globe valve showed that low temperatures caused non-uniform thermal contraction, reducing the gasket-poppet contact width (2.5 mm to 1.75 mm) and maximum specific pressure (16.967 MPa to 13.352 MPa), leading to leakage risks. Optimizing the stem preload to 36,000 N restored effective sealing: the maximum specific pressure rebounded to 16.601 MPa, with no pressure below 3.702 MPa. This research provides a method for evaluating low-temperature sealing performance and supports safe vessel operation in cold waters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Numerical Analysis and Computing in Mechanical Engineering)

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