Research on Fatigue and Failure Mechanisms of Composites

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: closed (25 March 2026) | Viewed by 3147

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Brightlands Materials Center, Netherlands Organization for Applied Science Research (TNO), 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands
Interests: polymer physics; mechanics; recycling and degradation; failure mechanisms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of fatigue and fracture in composite materials is a critical domain for many engineering applications. As the demand for sustainable, high-performance materials grows, understanding the multiscale failure mechanisms and fatigue behavior of composites, particularly non-traditional ones, becomes imperative. This Special Issue invites contributions that delve into the simulation and numerical analysis of fatigue and fracture in composite materials, with a particular emphasis on biobased and biodegradable composites, as well as multifunctional composites. We aim to showcase pioneering research that advances our understanding of material behavior under cyclic loading, including fatigue life, crack propagation, and failure modes in more sustainable alternatives to traditional engineering composites.

Additionally, this Special Issue seeks to explore the behavior of natural fiber composites and the intricate interphase and interface failure mechanisms under complex loading conditions. Papers that provide detailed insights into the simulation and experimental investigation of these mechanisms are particularly welcome. By bridging simulation and experimental studies, this Special Issue aspires to offer a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and advancements in the field, providing valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals engaged in the development and expansion of markets for sustainable composite materials.

Dr. Nithya Subramanian
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • multifunctional composites
  • biodegradable and biobased composites
  • composite structure
  • mechanical testing
  • modelling and analysis
  • fatigue/fracture behavior
  • failure mechanisms
  • multiscale failure
  • structural integrity
  • interface
  • toughness

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 13913 KB  
Article
Investigation of the Cyclic Behavior of Unidirectional rCFRP with Focus on the Characterization of the Residual Strength Behavior
by Philipp Reiser, Christian Becker, Andreas Baumann, Nicole Motsch-Eichmann and Joachim Hausmann
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(3), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10030148 - 7 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 560
Abstract
This paper investigates the fatigue and residual strength behavior of recycled carbon fiber reinforced plastics (rCFRPs) with different fiber architectures in an epoxy resin matrix: a unidirectional (UD) rCFRP and a non-crimp fabric (NCF) composite. Due to the research gap in fatigue testing [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the fatigue and residual strength behavior of recycled carbon fiber reinforced plastics (rCFRPs) with different fiber architectures in an epoxy resin matrix: a unidirectional (UD) rCFRP and a non-crimp fabric (NCF) composite. Due to the research gap in fatigue testing of recycled carbon fiber-reinforced plastics with quasi-continuous fiber reinforcement, their fatigue properties are investigated in this article. The objective of the present study is to contribute to the broader goal of integrating recycled carbon fibers as quasi-continuous fiber reinforcement in structural applications by understanding their failure behavior. To determine suitable stress levels for fatigue testing, quasi-static tensile tests are conducted first. Subsequently, fatigue tests are performed with a stress ratio of 0.1. Damage evolution is documented by a continuous recording of the stiffness degradation. For the unidirectional material, an S-Nf curve is created based on three stress levels. The curve can be described with a logarithmic equation. Fatigue testing of the NCF laminate is performed at a single stress level. Subsequent residual strength tests using standard specimens show no clear correlation between the number of load cycles of pre-cycling and residual strength, but indicate a sudden-death behavior for both composites. For further investigation of the damage behavior, in situ residual strength tests are carried out using a combination of acoustic emission analysis and micro-computed tomography (µCT) imaging. This investigation is intended to illustrate crack initiation and propagation three-dimensionally after pre-cycling and during residual strength tests. The results demonstrate a significant influence of the microstructure on the failure behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Fatigue and Failure Mechanisms of Composites)
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15 pages, 4086 KB  
Article
The Balanced Bending Stiffness Method for Characterizing Interfacial Properties of Overmolded Composites
by Ali Rezaei, Simon Nakze, Jos. M. H. Linsen, Rick. A. C. Leuven and A. Tessa ten Cate
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(2), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10020093 - 10 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 800
Abstract
This study introduces the Balanced Bending Stiffness (BBS) method, a novel experimental approach to measure the intrinsic Mode-I interfacial fracture toughness (GIC) in overmolded hybrid composites. Traditional testing methods for these asymmetric systems are complicated by inherent stiffness mismatches that [...] Read more.
This study introduces the Balanced Bending Stiffness (BBS) method, a novel experimental approach to measure the intrinsic Mode-I interfacial fracture toughness (GIC) in overmolded hybrid composites. Traditional testing methods for these asymmetric systems are complicated by inherent stiffness mismatches that couple opening and shearing failure modes, requiring complex post-analytical corrections. The BBS method addresses this challenge by engineering physically balanced Asymmetric Double Cantilever Beam (ADCB) specimens through comparative stiffness matching, isolating pure mode-I failure conditions and enabling direct toughness measurement. The method is validated using a glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene (GF/PP) system, with parametric studies investigating the effects of fiber content and processing temperatures on interfacial toughness for short-fiber (SFT) and long-fiber (LFT) thermoplastics. Results reveal that higher fiber content and substrate preheating significantly enhance toughness, with particularly strong results for LFTs due to fiber bridging. This work provides a framework for material characterization and insights into optimizing overmolded composite interfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Fatigue and Failure Mechanisms of Composites)
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20 pages, 4547 KB  
Article
Fatigue Behaviors of High-Speed Track Slabs Reinforced by GFRP Composite Rebar: Full-Scale Experimental Verification
by Sang-Youl Lee
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(11), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9110597 - 2 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1089
Abstract
This study deals with the fatigue behavior of on-site-installation-type track slabs subject to cycling train load developed by applying glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars. Concrete track slabs have the most severe deterioration in track circuit characteristic values due to the conduction influence of [...] Read more.
This study deals with the fatigue behavior of on-site-installation-type track slabs subject to cycling train load developed by applying glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars. Concrete track slabs have the most severe deterioration in track circuit characteristic values due to the conduction influence of existing steel bars. Therefore, a track slab applying an insulator and lightweight GFRP reinforcement by replacing the existing steel bar was proposed from a design perspective. In order to present the validity of the proposed method, a full-size specimen was manufactured and a fatigue performance test was performed, and the results were compared with the test specimen applied with steel bars. From the results of various fatigue behaviors, it was found that displacement variations during cyclic loading remained within 1 mm, and load variations were within 10 kN, indicating excellent stability under accumulated fatigue cycles. This study analyzed the macro-level structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete track slabs under fatigue loading. Future research will further investigate micro-level bond interactions between the reinforcement and concrete to validate long-term performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Fatigue and Failure Mechanisms of Composites)
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