Advances in Polymer Composites: Design, Multifunctionality, and Structural Health Monitoring

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer composites, combining synthetic or natural polymer matrices with high-performance reinforcements such as fibers, particles, and nanomaterials, have become indispensable in aerospace, transportation, civil infrastructure, energy systems, biomedical devices, and environmental engineering. Their outstanding characteristics—including high specific strength and stiffness, superior corrosion resistance, lightweight design, and tailored multifunctionality—make them ideal for advanced structural and functional applications.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advances in the design, processing, characterization, and modeling of polymer composites, with particular emphasis on multifunctionality, durability, and structural integrity under diverse service conditions. We welcome contributions that explore novel material systems, advanced manufacturing processes, innovative performance enhancement strategies, and emerging nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques. Studies focusing on computational modeling, data-driven performance prediction, and the integration of intelligent sensing technologies into polymer composites are also encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Development of high-performance polymer matrices and fiber reinforcements with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and functional properties.
• Advanced fabrication technologies for polymer composites (e.g., additive manufacturing, automated fiber placement, hybrid manufacturing, 3D weaving/braiding).
• Integration of nanomaterials, smart fillers, or functional coatings for improved sensing, self-healing, energy harvesting, or environmental adaptability.
• Interface engineering, damage tolerance, fatigue resistance, and multifunctional performance optimization.
• Nondestructive testing (NDT) and SHM methods for real-time monitoring and life prediction of polymer composites.
• Sustainable and recyclable polymer composites, including biodegradable and renewable material systems.
• Multi-scale experimental, theoretical, and computational modeling for performance evaluation.

Dr. Hongye Liu
Dr. Zhenhua Tian
Prof. Dr. Zenghua Liu
Guest Editors

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. 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.