Fatigue Behaviour of Engineering Materials: Mechanisms, Characterization and Modelling

Dear Colleagues,

Fatigue, the progressive weakening and eventual failure of engineering materials under cyclic loading, plays a critical role in determining the reliability and service life of structural components across aerospace, automotive, energy, and civil engineering applications. Fatigue can lead to sudden and catastrophic failure even if loads do not result in any macroscopic deformation. Despite decades of research, accurate prediction of fatigue life remains a major scientific and engineering challenge, owing to the intrinsic complexity of microstructural heterogeneity, defects, and environmental effects. Studying these phenomena is essential for advancing the mechanistic understanding of fatigue behaviour enabled by state-of-the-art testing methodologies, high-resolution characterization techniques, and robust theoretical and modelling frameworks, thereby informing the design of spatially heterogeneous compositions and microstructures for enhanced fatigue resistance.

This Special Issue aims to bring together scientists and engineers exploring fatigue behaviour to highlight the interplay between experiments, theory, and simulations. Contributions addressing both fundamental mechanisms and industrially relevant mechanical challenges are particularly encouraged. Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced experimental characterisation of fatigue behaviour, including multiscale and correlative imaging techniques and in situ methodologies.
• Fatigue deformation mechanisms, such as plastic localisation, crack initiation, and crack propagation.
• Fatigue behaviour under extreme service environments, including high and cryogenic temperatures, hydrogen exposure, and irradiation.
• Modelling, validation, and verification of fatigue and fracture behaviour.
• Establishment of process–structure–property–performance relationships.
• Predictive models and software tools for fatigue and fracture assessment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Conghui Liu
Dr. Xingzhong Liang
Guest Editors

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