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Ultrasound Applications in Materials Science and Processing

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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: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 546

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesca Lionetto

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
Interests: material characterization; ultrasonic wave propagation; polymer rheology; curing kinetics of thermosetting matrices; polymer matrix composites; polymer composite processing and joining; heat transfer modelling; polymer based nanocomposites; hybrid welding of dissimilar materials; micro and nanoplastics; sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After the success of the Special Issue of Materials entitled “Ultrasound for Material Characterization and Processing (3rd Edition)”, I am delighted to open a new Special Issue entitled “Ultrasound Applications in Materials Science and Processing”.

Ultrasound is currently employed for multiple purposes in a vast range of fields, from the non-destructive inspection of materials to the sonochemical synthesis of materials and welding. Usually, ultrasonic applications are divided into low-intensity–high-frequency ultrasound and high-intensity–low-frequency ultrasound. Low-intensity ultrasound transmits energy through a medium in order to obtain information about the medium or to convey information through the medium. Today, it is an essential tool utilized to assess metals, plastics, aerospace composites, wood, concrete, and cement. High-intensity ultrasound deliberately affects the propagation medium via the high local temperatures and pressures generated primarily by acoustic cavitation. There is also a direct connection between ultrasound and sustainability, as it promotes environmental protection, enhances resource efficiency, and supports eco-friendly practices across multiple industries.

Below is an overview of how ultrasound contributes to sustainable development:

This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in ultrasound, addressing fundamental science as well as the applications of ultrasound in the field of engineering material characterization and material processing, with the analysis of heat and mass transfer related to the propagation of ultrasonic waves in a material.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original articles and review papers addressing the following themes:

Low-intensity ultrasound: non-destructive inspection; ultrasonic dynamic analysis; ultrasonic rheology; ultrasonic spectroscopy of materials; process monitoring and applications in civil, aerospace, and geological materials and structures; the characterization of biological media; and imaging and mapping.

High-intensity ultrasound: industrial processes such as welding, cleaning, emulsification, atomization, etc.; chemical reactions and reactors induced by ultrasonic waves; eco-friendly synthesis of organic and inorganic materials; eco-friendly waste recycling; microstructural effects; heat generation; accelerated materials characterization using ultrasonic fatigue testing; and food processing and environmental protection.

Contributions addressing heat and transport phenomena in ultrasound-based applications are also welcome.

I kindly invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Francesca Lionetto
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

ultrasonic wave propagation
non-destructive inspection
guided waves
material characterization
vscolastic properties
ultrasonic welding
ultrasonic sonochemistry
numerical modeling
heat and mass transport phenomena
food processing
environmental protection
industrial processing
waste recycling

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Related Special Issues

Ultrasound for Material Characterization and Processing in Materials (12 articles)
Ultrasound for Material Characterization and Processing II in Materials (10 articles)
Ultrasound for Material Characterization and Processing (3rd Edition) in Materials (10 articles)

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 4172 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Strength and Homogeneity of Different Concrete Specimens Prepared Under a High-Frequency and Low-Power Piezoelectric Excitation System

by Nabi İbadov, Gürcan Çetin, Ercüment Güvenç, Murat Çevikbaş, İsmail Serkan Üncü and Kamil Furkan İlhan

Materials 2026, 19(8), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081600 - 16 Apr 2026

Viewed by 291

Abstract

Ensuring the durability and safety of modern infrastructure critically depends on the quality and strength of concrete. The Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) method is a widely used non-destructive testing technique for evaluating concrete properties; however, factors such as aggregate size distribution, compaction methods, and surface quality can significantly influence UPV results and their correlation with compressive strength. This study investigates the effects of different aggregate sizes and an innovative vibration-assisted compaction method—developed using piezoelectric (PZT) transducers—on the mechanical, ultrasonic, and surface properties of concrete. Four distinct aggregate size distributions were employed to produce sixteen concrete specimens with constant mix proportions. Unlike conventional low-frequency, high-power vibration practices, a high-frequency (40 kHz), low-power (120 W) vibration protocol was applied through PZT elements placed within the molds to enhance compaction and reduce entrapped air. Experimental results indicated that the heaviest specimen (7.13 kg) was the medium-aggregate sample compacted using tamping and rodding methods. The highest UPV value (4143 m/s) was obtained from the coarse-aggregate specimen subjected to three minutes of vibration. In contrast, the best compressive strength performance (22.73 MPa) was observed in the medium-aggregate specimen without any vibration treatment. The findings revealed that both aggregate size and advanced vibration techniques have significant effects on the mechanical properties, ultrasonic response, and surface quality of concrete. In addition, a proof-of-concept portable surface-finishing prototype consisting of a steel plate instrumented with multiple PZT transducers was developed, and preliminary trials qualitatively suggested improved surface leveling when applied in contact with the concrete surface. Surface roughness was quantified via image processing (Light Map 150 and Specular Map 150). The rough-area fraction decreased from ~29.8% in the untreated specimen to ~4.3% after ultrasonic application, indicating a marked improvement in surface leveling and overall surface quality. The results indicate that the applied PZT vibration protocol did not improve compressive strength; in several cases, particularly under prolonged excitation, a reduction in strength was observed. In contrast, a significant improvement in surface quality was achieved, with the rough-area fraction decreasing from approximately 29.8% to 4.3%. However, due to the limited number of specimens, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Overall, the method appears more promising as a surface enhancement technique rather than a direct alternative to conventional compaction methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Applications in Materials Science and Processing)

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