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J. Compos. Sci.
Special Issues
Advanced Composite Materials: Design, Implementation and Characterization
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Advanced Composite Materials: Design, Implementation and Characterization

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Composites Modelling and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 844

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luigi Solazzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Interests: composite material; pressure vessel; design multilayer cylindrical components; experimental tests; applied composite material; dynamic load; load movement; impulse loading; structural vibration; dynamic behaviour; dynamic analyses; lifting equipment; crane; finite element analyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, attaining economic and environmental sustainability is crucial. One methodology to achieve this is the utilization of innovative materials such as composites instead of, for example, classical structural steels.

In the literature, numerous studies focus on the theoretical aspects of composites. In this Special Issue, attention will be given not only to theoretical approaches but also to the implementation of such materials.

Our goals are to explore how composite materials can be used to enhance component performance and to evaluate their behavior and durability. This concerns developing specific testing methodologies and related equipment to characterize these materials and components.

This Special Issue will cover (but will not be limited to) the following topics:

  • the design of components made of composite materials;
  • static, fatigue, and fracture design;
  • damage criteria;
  • experimental tests characterizing both composite materials and components;
  • lightweight components;
  • joint design (regarding static, fatigue age effects, etc.);
  • manufacturing processes;
  • innovative and emerging applications of composite materials.

Prof. Dr. Luigi Solazzi
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 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. Journal of Composites Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • lightweighting components
  • static, fatigue and fracture performance
  • manufacturing processes

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 3520 KB  
Article
Multi-Material Fused Filament Fabrication of TPU Composite Honeycombs Featuring Out-of-Plane Gradient Stiffness
by Savvas Koltsakidis, Konstantinos Tsongas, Nikolaos Papas, Eleftheria Maria Pechlivani and Dimitrios Tzetzis
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(11), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9110588 - 1 Nov 2025
Viewed by 94
Abstract
Gradient stiffness structures are increasingly recognized for their excellent energy absorption capabilities, particularly under challenging loading conditions. Most studies focus on varying the thickness of the structure in order to produce gradient stiffness. This work introduces an innovative approach to design honeycomb architectures [...] Read more.
Gradient stiffness structures are increasingly recognized for their excellent energy absorption capabilities, particularly under challenging loading conditions. Most studies focus on varying the thickness of the structure in order to produce gradient stiffness. This work introduces an innovative approach to design honeycomb architectures with controlled gradient stiffness along the out-of-plane direction achieved by materials’ microstructure variations. The gradient is achieved by combining three types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials: porous TPU, plain TPU, and carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced TPU. By varying the material distribution across the honeycomb layers, a smooth transition in stiffness is formed, improving both mechanical resilience and energy dissipation. To fabricate these structures, a dual-head 3D printer was employed with one head printed processed TPU with a chemical blowing agent to produce porous and plain sections, while the other printed a CF-reinforced TPU. By alternating between the two print heads and modifying the processing temperatures, honeycombs with up to three distinct stiffness zones were produced. Compression testing under out-of-plane loading revealed clear plateau and densification regions in the stress–strain curves. Pure CF-reinforced honeycombs absorbed the most energy at stress levels above ~4.5 MPa, while porous TPU honeycombs were more effective under stress levels below ~1 MPa. Importantly, the gradient stiffness honeycombs achieved a balanced energy absorption profile across a broader range of stress levels, offering enhanced performance and adaptability for applications like protective equipment, packaging, and automotive structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composite Materials: Design, Implementation and Characterization)
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13 pages, 2047 KB  
Article
Study of the Relationship Between Microstructure, Phase Composition and Strength Characteristics in Composite Ceramics Based on ZrO2-Al2O3 System
by Rafael I. Shakirzyanov, Yuriy A. Garanin, Malik E. Kaliyekperov, Sofiya A. Maznykh and Dilnaz K. Zhamikhanova
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(10), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9100519 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 508
Abstract
ZrO2-MgO-Al2O3 ceramics, despite a long history of research, still attract the attention of researchers due to the high potential of their applications as refractories and matrices for metal ceramics. A unique composition combining high strength and temperature stability [...] Read more.
ZrO2-MgO-Al2O3 ceramics, despite a long history of research, still attract the attention of researchers due to the high potential of their applications as refractories and matrices for metal ceramics. A unique composition combining high strength and temperature stability is particularly in demand. In this paper, a comprehensive study of ceramics of the composition (90−x)·ZrO2-10·MgO-x·Al2O3 (x = 10–80 wt.%) obtained by solid-phase sintering with preliminary annealing is carried out. Preliminary annealing was used for the possible formation of metastable phases with outstanding mechanical properties. Using the X-ray diffraction method, it was found that most of the samples consist of monoclinic zirconium oxide, magnesium–aluminum spinel, and corundum phases. The exception is the sample with x = 10 wt.%, in which the main phase was a cubic modification of zirconium oxide. By formation this type of ZrO2 polymorph in the composition hardness and flexural strength significantly increased from 400 to 1380 and 50 to 210 MPa, respectively. The total porosity of ceramics under study lies in the range 6–28%. Using the scanning electron microscopy method, it was found that the phase composition significantly affects the morphology of the microstructure of the sintered bodies. Thus, for sintered ceramics with a high corundum content, the microstructure is characterized by high porosity and a large grain size. For the first time, by applying preliminary annealing, a new type of ternary ceramic ZrO2-MgO-Al2O3 was sintered with potentially outstanding mechanical properties. The presence of a stabilized zirconium oxide phase, stresses in the crystal lattice of the matrix phase, and the formation of cracks in the microstructure are the main factors influencing shrinkage, porosity, microhardness, and biaxial flexural strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Composite Materials: Design, Implementation and Characterization)
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