Mechanical Properties of Thin Coatings, Composites and Nanomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing use of thin coatings and composite materials in the numerous fields of industry and technology gives rise to the necessity of developing methodologies for evaluating their mechanical properties in order to predict their performance during technological processes. The depth-sensing indentation (DSI) test is a widely used technique for determining the mechanical properties of thin coatings and composite materials. The DSI technique allows the evaluation not only of the hardness but also of other mechanical properties, such as the Young’s modulus, the residual stresses, the yield stress, and the strain-hardening parameter. This Special Issue will focus on the methods and procedures that can be used in experimental and numerical DSI tests and contribute to the evaluation of the mechanical properties of thin films and composite materials, paying special attention to nanocomposites, i.e., those reinforced with nanoparticles, nanotubes, or nanofibers.

Furthermore, the aim of this Special Issue is to gather recent achievements towards the experimental characterization and modelling of the mechanical behaviour of nanocomposites, including, but not limited to, those reinforced with carbon nanotubes.

Contributions to the modelling and numerical simulation of the mechanical behaviour of carbon and non-carbon nanotubes and nanofibers, which are helpful in the design methodologies for producing nanocomposites, are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Jorge M. Antunes
Dr. Nataliya A. Sakharova
Guest Editors

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