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Mechanical Properties and Modeling of Structural Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 January 2026 | Viewed by 1172

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: industrial engineering; civil engineering; aerospace engineering; materials science; structural mechanics; fracture mechanics; applied computational mathematics; composite materials and structures; structural junctions; retrofitting of existing structures; thin-walled beams; rheology of materials
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CIRA—Italian Aerospace Research Center, Capua, Italy
Interests: aerospace engineering; structural engineering; fracture mechanics; campsite materials; structural optimization; impact dynamics; crashworthiness in aeronautical field; mechanic testing; design for additive

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Composite materials have revolutionized various engineering sectors over the past few decades. Let us delve into how these materials play a pivotal role across various domains.

In industrial and mechanical engineering, composite materials offer exceptional strength/weight ratios, making them ideal for structural components within several applications as follows:

  • Automotive components: Lightweight composites enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in vehicles.
  • Sports equipment: From tennis rackets to bicycle frames, composites provide high performance.
  • Wind turbine blades: Composites withstand dynamic loads and harsh environmental conditions.

In civil engineering, composites contribute to infrastructure durability and sustainability, generally being used in the following:

  • Bridge decks: Composite materials enhance load-bearing capacity and corrosion resistance.
  • Reinforced concrete: External reinforcement with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) improves structural integrity.
  • Seismic retrofitting: FRP composites strengthen existing structures against earthquakes.

The aerospace industry has been a pioneer in the realm of composite material adoption within the field of civil and military aviation, as well as space exploration.

Within this context, further studies regarding the mechanical properties of composites (including novel composite materials and structural batteries)  and their structural modeling are needed in order to achieve general and reliable predictions of their reliability in terms of short and long term behaviors, as well as fatigue strength.

Dr. Valentino Paolo Berardi
Dr. Francesco Di Caprio
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • composites
  • mechanical modelling, structural integrity
  • fatigue
  • reliability
  • durability
  • viscous effects

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 4351 KB  
Article
Sustainable PLA Composites Filled with Poaceae Fibers: Thermal, Structural, and Mechanical Properties
by Natalia Kubiak, Bogna Sztorch, Magdalena Kustosz, Miłosz Frydrych, Daria Pakuła, Marek Jałbrzykowski, Tobias Hartmann, Camilo Zopp, Lothar Kroll and Robert E. Przekop
Materials 2025, 18(17), 3952; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18173952 - 23 Aug 2025
Viewed by 646
Abstract
The present study investigates the manufacturing and characterization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites with raw and treated Poaceae, with loadings of 5, 10, and 20% wt. Before composite fabrication, the lignocellulosic fillers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), [...] Read more.
The present study investigates the manufacturing and characterization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites with raw and treated Poaceae, with loadings of 5, 10, and 20% wt. Before composite fabrication, the lignocellulosic fillers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and microscopy to assess their chemical composition, thermal stability, and morphological features. Composites were prepared by melting PLA in a molten state with fillers, followed by injection molding. Comprehensive characterization of the obtained composites included microscopic analysis, melt flow index (MFI) testing, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as mechanical tests (tensile and bending tests, impact test). The addition of Poaceae fibers to the PLA matrix significantly affected the mechanical and rheological properties of the composites. Incorporating 5% of cooked or alkalized fibers increased the flexural strength by 57% and 54%, respectively, compared to neat PLA. The modulus of elasticity for the composite with 20% alkalized fibers increased by as much as 35%. The fibers acted as nucleating agents, reducing the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) by up to 15.6 °C, while alkaline residues contributed to an increased melt flow index (MFI). The conducted research provides a valuable basis and insights into the design of sustainable bio-based composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Properties and Modeling of Structural Composites)
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