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Inventions
Special Issues
Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis
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Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis

A special issue of Inventions (ISSN 2411-5134). This special issue belongs to the section "Inventions and Innovation in Biotechnology and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 2426

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Wenfu Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Electrical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
Interests: power systems; high voltage; thermal conductivity; carbon fiber composites; multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs); plasma physics; machine learning; finite element method (FEM)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue in Inventions titled “Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis”. This Special Issue aims to highlight significant advancements in the mechanical behavior of composite materials, focusing on their strength, deformation mechanisms, and failure analysis. Research in this area is crucial due to the growing demand for composites in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers to share their latest findings on the mechanical performance of composite materials. We welcome the submission of original research articles and reviews that explore the fundamental and applied aspects of composite mechanics.

The scope of this issue includes theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies that focus on how composites deform, resist loads, and eventually fail. By integrating micro-scale analysis with macro-scale structural performance, this collection seeks to advance the reliability and design optimization of composite structures.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Macro- and micromechanics of composites;
  • Fatigue, fracture, and damage evolution;
  • Impact resistance and dynamic response;
  • Environmental effects on mechanical properties;
  • Interfacial bonding and delamination analysis;
  • Finite element analysis (FEA) and multi-scale modeling;
  • Structural health monitoring of composite structures;
  • Novel composite architectures.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Wenfu Wei
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Inventions 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 1800 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
  • failure analysis
  • deformation mechanisms
  • fracture mechanics
  • structural strength
  • fatigue life
  • finite element analysis
  • micromechanics
  • impact resistance
  • damage evolution

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3674 KB  
Article
A Study on the Impact of Ice-Covered Pantograph–Catenary Arc Characteristics and Ablation Mechanisms
by Zhiliang Wang, Zhuo Li, Keqiao Zeng, Wenfu Wei, Zefeng Yang and Huan Zhang
Inventions 2026, 11(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions11020032 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 517
Abstract
Under severe ice and snow weather, ice-covered pantograph–catenary arcs affect the safe operation of high-speed trains. This study investigates the impact of ice-covered arc electrical characteristics, plasma parameters, and material ablation mechanisms. By constructing a comprehensive pantograph–catenary icing experimental platform, arc voltage, current [...] Read more.
Under severe ice and snow weather, ice-covered pantograph–catenary arcs affect the safe operation of high-speed trains. This study investigates the impact of ice-covered arc electrical characteristics, plasma parameters, and material ablation mechanisms. By constructing a comprehensive pantograph–catenary icing experimental platform, arc voltage, current signals, high-speed dynamic images, and emission spectra were synchronously collected under different icing thicknesses ranging from 0 to 15 mm. Research indicates that ice coverture causes frequent “extinction–reignition” phenomena during the arc initiation stage due to the latent heat absorbed by melting ice, significantly reducing the initial stability of arc combustion. Spectral analysis confirms that the arc excitation temperature and energy density are positively correlated with the concentration of hydrogen ions produced by water vapor ionization, reaching a peak under the 5 mm icing condition. Experimental results show that the average energy density of ice-covered arcs is approximately double that of the non-iced condition, causing the ablation pits on the carbon strip to exhibit characteristics of greater depth and wider copper deposition zones. This study reveals the unique mechanisms and damage characteristics of icing pantograph–catenary arcs, providing an important basis for the safe design and maintenance of pantograph–catenary systems in high-cold railway environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis)
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14 pages, 3727 KB  
Article
Preparation and Performance of High-Thermal-Conductivity Composite Materials for Online Monitoring Equipment of Ultra-High Voltage Bushings
by Jie Zhang, Longgang Guo, Lin Li, Jian Qin, Zhiqiang Zhang and Zefeng Yang
Inventions 2026, 11(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions11010017 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 975
Abstract
In response to thermal failure risks in ultra-high voltage (UHV) bushing online monitoring devices and maintenance equipment—caused by high heat generation of electronic components and the intrinsically low thermal conductivity of conventional resin encapsulation materials—this study proposes a novel modification strategy based on [...] Read more.
In response to thermal failure risks in ultra-high voltage (UHV) bushing online monitoring devices and maintenance equipment—caused by high heat generation of electronic components and the intrinsically low thermal conductivity of conventional resin encapsulation materials—this study proposes a novel modification strategy based on flash Joule heating (FJH). Distinct from conventional interface modification methods, the proposed approach enables cross-scale, in situ microsoldering between multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon fibers (CFs), constructing a multiscale reinforcement network with integrated thermal transport and mechanical load transfer pathways. The transient ultra-high-temperature thermal shock generated by FJH not only effectively removes inert impurities on CF surfaces but also drives carbon structural reconstruction, enabling graphitic-level welding of MWCNTs onto the fiber surface. This micro-welded architecture fundamentally differs from traditional filler dispersion or interface coating strategies, which often suffer from the trade-off between interfacial thermal transport and mechanical bonding. By contrast, the FJH-induced carbon–carbon bonded nodes form a continuous conductive and load-bearing network at the micro–nano scale. Characterizations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm successful in situ welding of MWCNTs onto CF surfaces. Meanwhile, FJH treatment effectively removes oxygen-containing functional groups and surface impurities. Analysis of carbon bonding evolution indicates that the welding efficiency reaches its maximum at 90 V. Macroscopic performance tests demonstrate that, compared with epoxy resin, the thermal conductivity of the multiscale reinforced system increases by approximately 168%, while the mechanical strength improves by 62.72%. This study provides new theoretical insights and technical pathways for the development of next-generation polymer composite materials with both high thermal conductivity and high mechanical strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis)
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20 pages, 4557 KB  
Article
Research on Characterization and Detection Methods of Photovoltaic Cell Thermal Defects Based on Temperature Derivatives
by Zhizhen Du, Kai Liu, Zhiqiang Dai, Like Fan and Guangning Wu
Inventions 2026, 11(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions11010014 - 4 Feb 2026
Viewed by 515
Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) cells play an important role in the development of green energy. However, in practical photovoltaic systems, shunting-related defects and hotspot phenomena may originate not only from manufacturing imperfections, but also from mechanical stress and environmental factors during transportation, installation, and long-term [...] Read more.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells play an important role in the development of green energy. However, in practical photovoltaic systems, shunting-related defects and hotspot phenomena may originate not only from manufacturing imperfections, but also from mechanical stress and environmental factors during transportation, installation, and long-term field operation. Such hotspots not only reduce the power-generation efficiency and service life of PV cells but may also pose safety risks to grid-connected photovoltaic power stations. To address this problem, a squared even-order derivative (SEOD) method based on surface temperature analysis is introduced to enable the quantitative detection of thermal defects in PV cells. In this study, typical faults in PV cells, including low-resistance defects and silicon-based deep scratches, are analyzed. A simulation model is established to correlate typical faults with their equivalent volumetric heat sources, followed by experimental validation for low-resistance defects. Based on this framework, the SEOD algorithm is developed and applied to achieve high-precision localization and quantitative characterization of thermal defects in both simulation models and experimental samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanics of Composite Materials: Strength, Deformation, and Failure Analysis)
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