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Multiscale Mechanical Behaviors of Advanced Materials and Structures

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanics of Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 2625

Special Issue Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Interests: computational mechanics; mechanical and acoustic metamaterials; machine learning and biomimetic materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of advanced design methods and manufacturing tools, novel materials and structures are demonstrating broad application prospects. Underlying these advancements is the skillful utilization of numerical simulation methods, machine learning, and mechanical theories, necessitating in-depth research. The mechanical properties of materials change under external loads. Predicting these mechanical properties, such as crack propagation, fatigue life, plasticity, and buckling, is crucial for the utilization of materials and structures, and the underlying theories and simulations warrant further exploration. Moreover, developing theoretical and numerical models and tailoring the mechanical properties of materials are of significant value for the design of materials and structures with specific mechanical functions. This Special Issue will focus on research utilizing theoretical models, numerical methods, and other tools to predict and tailor the mechanical behavior of materials. The papers collected in this Special Issue can help researchers, engineers, and scientists find advanced mechanical analysis methods and provide ideas for the search for new materials.

Dr. Chuang Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • metamaterials
  • bio-inspired materials
  • inverse design
  • machine learning
  • numerical simulation
  • composite structures
  • fatigue and fracture
  • phase field method

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 17713 KB  
Article
Compressive Failure Mechanisms of NCF Laminates with Double-Hole Defects
by Songming Cai, Shi Yan, Lili Jiang, Zixiang Meng and Yongxin Niu
Materials 2026, 19(3), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030495 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 121
Abstract
Open-hole compression (OHC) tests were carried out on non-crimp fabric (NCF) laminates with varied open-hole orientation (angle to the loading direction) and inter-hole spacing. Failure modes were documented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the compressive strength was quantified. Finite element simulations in [...] Read more.
Open-hole compression (OHC) tests were carried out on non-crimp fabric (NCF) laminates with varied open-hole orientation (angle to the loading direction) and inter-hole spacing. Failure modes were documented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the compressive strength was quantified. Finite element simulations in Abaqus were developed to replicate the tests, establishing a progressive-damage model for open-hole laminates under compression. Intralaminar failure was described using the three-dimensional Hashin failure criterion and a modified matrix compression criterion incorporating shear coupling effects, while interlaminar delamination was modeled with cohesive elements, enabling the simulation of damage initiation, growth, delamination, and final collapse. The results show that hole orientation and spacing have a pronounced effect on open-hole compression (OHC) strength. A spacing threshold is observed, beyond which further increases in spacing provide little additional benefit. In contrast, the apparent elastic stiffness is essentially insensitive to hole spacing and orientation. The combined intralaminar and interlaminar model successfully reproduces the characteristic mechanical response—linear elasticity followed by catastrophic failure—in good agreement with the experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale Mechanical Behaviors of Advanced Materials and Structures)
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14 pages, 4436 KB  
Article
Identification of Mechanical Parameters of the Silicon Structure of a Capacitive MEMS Accelerometer
by Kamil Kurpanik, Klaudiusz Gołombek, Edyta Krzystała, Jonasz Hartwich and Sławomir Kciuk
Materials 2025, 18(24), 5676; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245676 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 778
Abstract
The aim of this study was to conduct an advanced analysis of the MEMS sensor, including both experimental tests and numerical simulations, in order to determine its mechanical properties and operational dynamics in detail. It is challenging to find publications in the literature [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to conduct an advanced analysis of the MEMS sensor, including both experimental tests and numerical simulations, in order to determine its mechanical properties and operational dynamics in detail. It is challenging to find publications in the literature that are not based on theoretical assumptions or general manufacturer data, which do not reflect the actual microstructural characteristics of the sensor. This study uses a numerical model developed in MATLAB/Simulink, which allows the experimentally determined material characteristics to be combined with predictive dynamic modelling. The model takes into account key mechanical parameters such as stiffness, damping and response to dynamic loads, and the built-in optimisation algorithm allows the structural parameters of the MEMS accelerometer to be estimated directly from experimental data. In addition, SEM microscopic studies and EDS chemical composition analysis provided detailed information on the sensor’s microstructure, allowing its impact on mechanical properties and dynamic parameters to be assessed. The integration of advanced experimental methods with numerical modelling has resulted in a model whose response closely matches the measurement results, which is an important step towards further research on design optimisation and improving the reliability of MEMS sensors in diverse operating conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale Mechanical Behaviors of Advanced Materials and Structures)
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20 pages, 16411 KB  
Article
Tailoring Energy Absorption of Curved-Beam Lattices Through a Data-Driven Approach
by Pengting Xiang, Xian Liu, Xiang Chen and Chuang Liu
Materials 2025, 18(23), 5377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18235377 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 372
Abstract
Programmable mechanical metamaterials demonstrate significant potential for realizing high-performance mechanical responses, particularly in the field of energy absorption. In this study, a novel curved-beam thickness gradient lattice structure (CBTGLS) is proposed. Based on an intelligent inverse design framework integrating deep learning and genetic [...] Read more.
Programmable mechanical metamaterials demonstrate significant potential for realizing high-performance mechanical responses, particularly in the field of energy absorption. In this study, a novel curved-beam thickness gradient lattice structure (CBTGLS) is proposed. Based on an intelligent inverse design framework integrating deep learning and genetic algorithms, the beam thickness and curved-beam control points of the CBTGLS were optimized to maximize its total energy absorption (EA) and specific energy absorption (SEA). Furthermore, this research employed interpretability methods, such as Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) and Partial Dependence Plot (PDP), to analyze the influence mechanism of geometric parameters on energy absorption performance, aiming to enhance design efficiency and establish a clear design rationale. The results indicate that the optimized CBTGLS exhibits significant improvements in both EA and SEA. Specifically, compared to a baseline straight-beam lattice structure possessing an identical thickness gradient, SEA of the optimized CBTGLS was enhanced by 49.12%. Among the investigated parameters, beam thickness was identified as having a particularly significant impact on performance. Furthermore, it was observed that a curvature profile bending more towards the outer side of the unit cell is more beneficial for enhancing the energy absorption capabilities of the lattice structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale Mechanical Behaviors of Advanced Materials and Structures)
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13 pages, 3860 KB  
Article
Mechanical Performance and Energy Absorption of Ti6Al4V I-WP Lattice Metamaterials Manufactured via Selective Laser Melting
by Le Yu, Xiong Xiao, Xianyong Zhu, Jiaan Liu, Guangzhi Sun, Yanheng Xu, Song Yang, Cheng Jiang and Dongni Geng
Materials 2025, 18(19), 4626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18194626 - 7 Oct 2025
Viewed by 918
Abstract
Metamaterial lattice structures based on a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structure have attracted much attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and energy absorption capabilities. In this study, a novel TPMS lattice metamaterial structure (IWP-X) is designed to enhance the axial mechanical [...] Read more.
Metamaterial lattice structures based on a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structure have attracted much attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and energy absorption capabilities. In this study, a novel TPMS lattice metamaterial structure (IWP-X) is designed to enhance the axial mechanical properties by fusing an X-shaped plate with an IWP surface structure. A selective laser melting (SLM) machine was utilized to print the designed lattice structures with Ti6Al4V powder. The thickness of the plate and the density of the IWP are varied to explore the responsivity of the mechanical and energy absorption properties with the volume ratio of IWP-X. The finite element simulation analysis is used to effectively predict the stress distribution and fracture site of each structure in the compression test. The results show that the IWP-X structure obtains the ultimate compressive strength of 122.06% improvement, and the energy absorption of 282.03% improvement. The specific energy absorption (SEA) reaches its maximum value in the plate-to-IWP volume ratio of 0.7 to 0.8. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale Mechanical Behaviors of Advanced Materials and Structures)
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