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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2023) | Viewed by 21646

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Prof. Dr. Zhendong Sha

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
Interests: amorphous alloy; metallic glass; mechanical behavior; molecular dynamics simulation; first-principle calculation

Dr. Kejie Zhao

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Guest Editor

School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: deformation and fracture; battery; multiscale modeling; in situ experiment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of advanced materials and structures including fabrication, properties, and applications has become one of the most important topics in recent years. There has been a continual global push on the development of materials with enhanced properties across a wide spectrum of applications. An astonishing array of advanced materials and structures with unprecedented properties has been developed in recent years, across a wide range of commercial, biomedical, and industrial applications. Going forward, research activities in this field will most certainly intensify. The design and synthesis of advanced materials and structures require a thorough understanding of fundamental phenomena in condensed matter, materials physics, and engineering mechanics.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue. The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research on advanced materials and structures with lasting significance. The scope encompasses computational and experimental endeavors that characterize, predict, and elaborate on the responses of advanced materials and structures, subjected to a broad range of stimuli (e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic). Papers documenting on the fabrication, properties, and applications of advanced structural and materials are encouraged. Communications and reviews on focus topics are all welcome.

Dr. Zhendong Sha
Dr. Kejie Zhao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

mechanical properties
advanced materials and structures
multiscale modeling

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 7725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Hydrogen Doping Method on the Atomic Structure, Mechanical Properties and Relaxation Behaviors of Metallic Glasses

by Jiacheng Zhang, Pengfei Gao and Weixu Zhang

Materials 2023, 16(4), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041731 - 20 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1263

Abstract

The interaction of metallic glasses (MGs) with hydrogen can trigger many interesting physical, chemical and mechanical phenomena. However, atomic-scale understanding is still lacking. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to study the atomic structure, mechanical properties and relaxation behaviors of H-doped Ni50Al50 MGs doped by two methods. The properties of H-doped MGs are determined not only by the hydrogen content but also by the doping method. When H atoms are doped into the molten state of samples, H atoms can fully diffuse and interact with metallic atoms, resulting in loose local atomic structures, homogeneous deformation and enhanced β relaxation. In contrast, when H atoms are doped into as-cast MGs, the H content is crucial in affecting the atomic structure and mechanical properties. A small number of H atoms has little influence on the elastic matrix, while the percolation of shear transformation zones (STZs) is hindered by H atoms, resulting in the delay of shear band (SB) formation and an insignificant change in the strength. However, a large number of H atoms can make the elastic matrix loose, leading to the decrease in strength and the transition of the deformation mode from SB to homogeneous deformation. The H effects on the elastic matrix and flow units are also applied to the dynamic relaxation. The deformability of H-doped Ni50Al50 MGs is enhanced by both H-doping methods; however, our results reveal that the mechanisms are different. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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11 pages, 3447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plasma Nitriding of Inner Surface of Slender Tubes using Small Diameter Helicon Plasma

by Chenggang Jin, Yongqi Zhang, Chen Wang, Manxing Liu, Wenbin Ling, Liang He, Yan Yang and Peng E

Materials 2023, 16(1), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010311 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1393

Abstract

A steady-state, high-flux N₂/Ar helicon wave plasma (HWP) with a small diameter (10 mm) was used to nitride the interior of a slender austenitic stainless steel (ASS) 316L tube at a temperature of 450 °C. N₂ and Ar were fed to a 500 mm long slender tube with 10 mm inner diameter and were ionized inside the tube using a helicon wave in the magnetic field of 2000 G. The microstructure and depth of the nitrided layers, in addition to the morphology and hardness of the nitrided surfaces, were intensively characterized by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), as well as microhardness tests. The results confirmed that the nitrided layer consisted primarily of the expanded austenite phase γ_N, and neither CrN nor iron nitride precipitates. An increasing trend in microhardness was observed in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and HWP modes; however, the increase in HWP nitriding (up to HV 1820 with a thickness of 14 μm) was approximately 1.5 times greater than that achieved through ICP plasma nitriding. This was owing to the higher N⁺ ion density in the HWP mode. Considering the successful control of N₂ plasma discharge in a slender tube with a small diameter, this study opens up a new avenue for achieving high-yield nitride layers inside slender tubes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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19 pages, 13515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of the Essential Parameters of Friction-Stir Spot Welding That Affect the D/W Ratio of SSM6061 Aluminum Alloy

by Chaiyoot Meengam, Yongyuth Dunyakul and Siriporn Kuntongkum

Materials 2023, 16(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010085 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1333

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how the depth-to-width (D/W) ratio of the welding area affects the welding quality of the SSM6061 aluminum alloy via the friction-stir spot welding (FSSW) process. The results showed that a higher D/W ratio directly results in better mechanical properties. If the D/W ratio value is high (at 1.494), then this leads to higher tensile shear strength at 2.25 kN. On the other hand, if the D/W ratio values are low (at 1.144), then this reduces tensile shear strength to 1.17 kN. The fracture surface behavior on the ring zone also affects the characteristics of ductile fracture. During Vickers hardness analysis, the hardness profiles are in the shape of a W; the maximum hardness was 71.97 HV, resulting from the rotation speed of 3500 rpm and the dwell time of 28 s, where the hardness of the base metal was at 67.18 HV. Finite element (FEM) analysis indicated that the maximum temperature during simulation was 467 °C in the region near the edge shoulder tool, which is 72.96% of the melting point. According to FEM simulation, the temperature under the tool pin region was 369 °C. The generated heat was sufficient to induce changes in the microstructure. For microstructure changes, the globular grain took on a rosette-like form, and coarse grains were observed in the thermal mechanical affect zone (TMAZ) and in the nugget zone (NZ), transforming in the mix zone. Hooks, kissing bonds, voids, and porosity are the defects found in this experiment. These defects indicate a discontinuity in the NZ that leads to worse mechanical properties. During examination via SEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, the recrystallization structure from β-Mg₂Si IMCs to Al₃Mg₂ and Al₁₂Mg₁₇ IMCs was observed. The size was reduced to an average width of 1–2 µm and an average length of 2–17 µm. Simultaneously, the oxides from the ambient atmosphere present during welding showed dominant partial elements from SiO₂, MgO, and Al₂O₃. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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12 pages, 2259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Textured Stainless Steel as a Platform for Black Mg₂Si/Si Heterojunction Solar Cells with Advanced Photovoltaic Performance

by Alexander V. Shevlyagin, Vladimir M. Il’yaschenko, Aleksandr A. Kuchmizhak, Eugeny V. Mitsai, Andrey V. Amosov, Semyon A. Balagan and Sergei A. Kulinich

Materials 2022, 15(19), 6637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196637 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2154

Abstract

This paper reports on a facile bottom-up method for the direct integration of a silicon (Si)-magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si) heterojunction solar cell (HSC) with a textured rear reflector made of stainless steel (SS). Modified wet chemical etching and post processing of SS substrates resulted in the formation of both a rough surface texture and diffusion barrier layer, consisting of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) with reduced optical reflection. Then, Si, Mg₂Si and CaSi₂ layers were stepwise thermally evaporated onto the textured SS surface. No traces of Fe and Cr silicide phases were detected by Raman spectroscopy, confirming effective suppression of impurity diffusion from the SS to the upper layers at least at temperatures required for Si deposition, as well as Mg₂Si and CaSi₂ formation. The obtained black-SS/Fe₃O₄/Si/Mg₂Si/CaSi₂ sample preserved, to some extent, its underlying textured morphology and demonstrated an averaged reflection of 15% over the spectral range of 200–1800 nm, while its prototype HSC possessed a wideband photoresponse with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 7.5% under AM1.5 illumination. Moreover, Si layers deposited alone onto a black-SS substrate demonstrated competitive antireflection properties compared with black Si (b-Si) obtained by traditional top-down etching approaches, and hybrid b-Si/textured-SS structures with a glue-bonded interlayer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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10 pages, 1787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uncovering the Inherent Size Dependence of Yield Strength and Failure Mechanism in Micron-Sized Metallic Glass

by Yun Teng and Zhen-Dong Sha

Materials 2022, 15(18), 6362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186362 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1059

Abstract

The sample size effect on the deformation behavior of metallic glasses (MGs) has recently become research of intense interest. An inverse sample size effect is observed in previous experimental studies; where the yield strength decreases with decreasing sample size, rather than increasing. We propose a theoretical analysis based on the shear banding process to rationalize the inherent size dependence of yield strength, showing an excellent agreement with experimental results. Our model reveals that the anomalous inverse size effect is, in fact, caused by a transition in failure mode; from a rapid shear banding process with a shear band (SB) traversing the entire sample in bulk MGs, to an immature shear banding process with propagated SBs only at the surface in micron-sized MGs. Our results fill the gap in the current understanding of size effects in the strength and failure mechanism of MGs at different length scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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9 pages, 2645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elucidating the Effects of Reaction Time on the Physicochemical Characterization of Valorized Synthesized Alumina

by Aiman A. Bin Mokaizh, Jun Haslinda Shariffuddin, Abdullah O. Baarimah, Amin Al-Fakih, Abdullah Mohamed, Salem O. Baarimah, Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi, Hamoud Alenezi, Olusegun Abayomi Olalere and Anwar Ameen Hezam Saeed

Materials 2022, 15(9), 3046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093046 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1828

Abstract

Aluminum waste-can management in Malaysia has recently become a serious environmental and public health issue, particularly in metropolitan areas. This has prompted the need to valorize these waste-cans into value-added products using the most economical and environmentally friendly techniques. In this study, the sol–gel technique was used to synthesize high-quality alumina from the aluminum waste-cans collected. From this method, the observed peaks of the synthesized alumina were identified as diaspore (α-AlO(OH)), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)), aluminum oxide, or gamma-alumina (γ-Al₂O₃) crystalline structure and corundum. The morphological configuration, microstructure, and functional group properties of the synthesized alumina were evaluated. All the synthesized alumina exhibited a non-spherical shape and appeared to have hexagonal-like shape particles. Moreover, the XRD patterns of the synthesized alumina AL-6-30 and AL-12-30 exhibited a small angle (1–10°) with no XRD peak, which indicated a mesoporous pore structure with no long-range order. The overall results of γ-alumina synthesized from the aluminum waste-cans showed an optimal condition in producing a highly structured γ-alumina with excellent surface-area characteristics. The synthesized alumina exhibited stronger and highly crystalline functional characteristics almost comparable with the commercially available brands on the market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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14 pages, 5148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Temperature Tensile and Creep Behavior in a CrMoV Steel and Weld Metal

by Yan Song, Mengyu Chai, Zelin Han and Pan Liu

Materials 2022, 15(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010109 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

The 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel is a vanadium-modified 2.25Cr1Mo steel and is being widely used in the manufacture of heavy-wall hydrogenation reactors in petrochemical plants. However, the harsh service environment requires a thorough understanding of high-temperature tensile and creep behaviors of 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel and its weld for ensuring the safety and reliability of hydrogenation reactors. In this work, the high-temperature tensile and creep behaviors of base metal (BM) and weld metal (WM) in a 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel weldment used for a hydrogenation reactor were studied experimentally, paying special attention to its service temperature range of 350–500 °C. The uniaxial tensile tests under different temperatures show that the WM has higher strength and lower ductility than those of BM, due to the finer grain size in the WM. At the same time, the short-term creep tests at 550 °C reveal that the WM has a higher creep resistance than that of BM. Moreover, the creep damage mechanisms were clarified by observing the fracture surface and microstructures of crept specimens with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the creep damage mechanisms of both BM and WM are the initiation and growth of creep cavities at the second phase particles. Results from this work indicate that the mismatch in the high-temperature tensile strength, ductility, and creep deformation rate in 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel weldment needs to be considered for the design and integrity assessment of hydrogenation reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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15 pages, 8183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Swin–UNet++: A Nested Swin Transformer Architecture for Location Identification and Morphology Segmentation of Dimples on 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V Fractured Surface

by Pan Liu, Yan Song, Mengyu Chai, Zelin Han and Yu Zhang

Materials 2021, 14(24), 7504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247504 - 7 Dec 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3630

Abstract

The precise identification of micro-features on 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel is of great significance for understanding the mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and evaluating the alloy’s properties of HE resistance. Presently, the convolution neural network (CNN) of deep learning is widely applied in the micro-features identification of alloy. However, with the development of the transformer in image recognition, the transformer-based neural network performs better on the learning of global and long-range semantic information than CNN and achieves higher prediction accuracy. In this work, a new transformer-based neural network model Swin–UNet++ was proposed. Specifically, the architecture of the decoder was redesigned to more precisely detect and identify the micro-feature with complex morphology (i.e., dimples) of 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel fracture surface. Swin–UNet++ and other segmentation models performed state-of-the-art (SOTA) were compared on the dimple dataset constructed in this work, which consists of 830 dimple scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images on 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel fracture surface. The segmentation results show Swin–UNet++ not only realizes the accurate identification of dimples but displays a much higher prediction accuracy and stronger robustness than Swin–Unet and UNet. Moreover, efforts from this work will also provide an important reference value to the identification of other micro-features with complex morphologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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15 pages, 3120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties of a Chiral Cellular Structure with Semicircular Beams

by Yalei Bai, Tong Zhao, Chengxu Yuan, Weidong Liu, Haichao Zhang, Lei Yang and Chongmin She

Materials 2021, 14(11), 2887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112887 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2443

Abstract

Compliant cellular structures are good candidates for morphing applications. This paper proposes a novel chiral cellular structure composed of circular beams with great elastic properties and potential for morphing. The tensile and shear elastic properties of the structure are studied through theoretical derivations and then verified by finite element analysis. Results show that this novel chiral structure exhibits extremely low in-plane tensile and shear moduli, which are many orders of magnitude lower than that of the raw material. The structure also shows tensile–shear and shear–tensile coupling effects that cannot be ignored. The tensile and shear properties of the structure can provide a reference for employing this structure in engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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18 pages, 4430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extra-Soft Tactile Sensor for Sensitive Force/Displacement Measurement with High Linearity Based on a Uniform Strength Beam

by Na Ni, Xiaomin Xue and Dongbo Li

Materials 2021, 14(7), 1743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071743 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2067

Abstract

The soft sensing system has drawn huge enthusiasm for the application of soft robots and healthcare recently. Most of them possess thin-film structures that are beneficial to monitoring strain and pressure, but are unfavorable for measuring normal displacement with high linearity. Here we propose soft tactile sensors based on uniform-strength cantilever beams that can be utilized to measure the normal displacement and force of soft objects simultaneously. First, the theoretical model of the sensors is constructed, on the basis of which, the sensors are fabricated for testing their sensing characteristics. Next, the test results validate the constructed model, and demonstrate that the sensors can measure the force as well as the displacement. Besides, the self-fabricated sensor can have such prominent superiorities as follows—it is ultra-soft, and its equivalent stiffness is only 0.31 N·m⁻¹ (approximately 0.4% of fat); it has prominent sensing performance with excellent linearity (R² = 0.999), high sensitivity of 0.533 pF·mm⁻¹ and 1.66 pF·mN⁻¹ for measuring displacement and force; its detection limit is as low as 70 μm and 20 μN that is only one-tenth of the touch of a female fingertip. The presented sensor highlights a new idea for measuring the force and displacement of the soft objects with broad application prospects in mechanical and medical fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties of Advanced Materials and Structures)

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