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Fatigue, Fracture, and Multiaxial Integrity of Metallic Structure Materials: From...
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Fatigue, Fracture, and Multiaxial Integrity of Metallic Structure Materials: From Microstructure to Data-Driven Assessment

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Structural Integrity of Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 935

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jin Gan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Energy Power Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Interests: structural integrity; fracture mechanics; fatigue analysis; surface strengthment method; residual stress; multiaxial loading; computational modeling; high-strength steels; lightweight alloys; fatigue strength improvement technology
Dr. Huabing Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Green & Smart River-Sea-Going Ship Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Interests: structural integrity; fatigue analysis; surface strengthment method; residual stress; computational modeling; high-strength steels; lightweight alloys
Dr. Lei Ao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Green & Smart River-Sea-Going Ship, Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
Interests: structural integrity; crack damage; multiphysics environment; corrosion fatigue analysis; initial deformation; residual stress; computational modeling; scaled model test; high-strength steels

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The structural integrity of metallic components and systems is a cornerstone of engineering design, ensuring safety, reliability, and longevity across industries ranging from aerospace to civil infrastructure. As demands for lightweight, high-performance materials grow, so does the need for innovative approaches to assess and enhance the resilience of metallic structures under static, cyclic, and multiaxial loading conditions. This Special Issue, under the "Structural Integrity of Metals" section, seeks to bridge cutting-edge research with practical applications, fostering advancements in fracture and fatigue assessment methodologies.

Modern challenges in structural integrity call for a multidisciplinary synthesis of experimental, theoretical, and computational tools. From traditional fatigue life prediction models to data-driven techniques leveraging machine learning and big data analytics, the field is rapidly evolving to address complex geometries, scale effects, notch sensitivities, and multiaxial stress states. Furthermore, the interplay between microstructure, mechanical properties, and environmental factors necessitates a holistic understanding of failure mechanisms to optimize material selection and design.

We particularly encourage submissions that combine theoretical rigor with practical relevance, offering actionable insights for industries reliant on metallic structures. Studies addressing the interplay between microstructure, processing history, and mechanical performance are also highly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Jin Gan
Dr. Huabing Liu
Dr. Lei Ao
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • structural integrity
  • fracture mechanics
  • fatigue analysis
  • residual stress
  • microstructure–property relationships
  • multiaxial loading
  • computational modeling
  • high-strength steels
  • lightweight alloys
  • data-driven methods

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 15551 KB  
Article
Composition Optimization and Microstructure-Property Investigation of Al-3.0Ce-xCa-yMn Alloy Exhibiting High Hot Tearing Resistance
by Xiaoxiao Wei, Suhui Zhang, Xiaofei Wang, Yulin Teng, Wanwen Zhang and Mengmeng Wang
Metals 2025, 15(11), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15111195 - 27 Oct 2025
Viewed by 175
Abstract
This study employs a combined approach of theoretical calculations and experimental validation to systematically optimize the alloy composition, aiming to mitigate the hot cracking susceptibility of an Al-3.0Ce-xCa-yMn alloy in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processing. Through advanced characterization techniques such as electron [...] Read more.
This study employs a combined approach of theoretical calculations and experimental validation to systematically optimize the alloy composition, aiming to mitigate the hot cracking susceptibility of an Al-3.0Ce-xCa-yMn alloy in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processing. Through advanced characterization techniques such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mechanical property testing, the intrinsic relationship between microstructure and mechanical performance was thoroughly elucidated. Computational results revealed that the addition of Ca significantly lowered the eutectic precipitation temperature, thereby effectively reducing the hot cracking tendency while maintaining a stable volume fraction of the Al11(Ce, Ca)3 phase. The optimal mass fractions of calcium (Ca) and manganese (Mn) were determined to be 0.8% and 1.9%, respectively. Microstructural characterization indicates that the alloy consisted of an α-Al matrix embedded with Al-Ce-Ca ternary eutectic compounds, and nanoscale Al6Mn spherical precipitates were uniformly distributed within the matrix. Mechanical property evaluations demonstrated that the Al-3Ce-0.8Ca-1.9Mn alloy exhibited an outstanding balance of strength and ductility at both room and elevated temperatures, with room temperature yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation values of 321 ± 15 MPa, 429 ± 8 MPa, and 10.9 ± 2.3%, respectively. This exceptional performance was attributed to a synergistic combination of multiple strengthening mechanisms including eutectic structure-induced strengthening, grain boundary strengthening due to ultrafine grains, and dislocation pinning strengthening caused by nano-sized Al6Mn precipitates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Fracture, and Multiaxial Integrity of Metallic Structure Materials: From Microstructure to Data-Driven Assessment)
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20 pages, 8789 KB  
Article
The Effect of Hydrogen Embrittlement on Fracture Toughness of Cryogenic Steels
by Junggoo Park, Gyubaek An, Jeongung Park, Daehee Seong and Wonjun Jo
Metals 2025, 15(10), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15101139 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 520
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the fracture toughness of 9% Ni steel and STS 316L stainless steel under cryogenic conditions ranging from −80 °C to −253 °C. Hydrogen charging was performed using electrochemical methods, and hydrogen uptake was quantitatively [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the fracture toughness of 9% Ni steel and STS 316L stainless steel under cryogenic conditions ranging from −80 °C to −253 °C. Hydrogen charging was performed using electrochemical methods, and hydrogen uptake was quantitatively analyzed using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Fracture toughness was evaluated using crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) testing per ISO 12135, both without hydrogen (WO-H) and with hydrogen (W-H). The results showed a gradual decrease in CTOD values with decreasing temperature in both steels under hydrogen-free conditions, with ductile fracture maintained even at −253 °C. In contrast, hydrogen-charged specimens exhibited significant toughness degradation at intermediate subzero temperatures (−80 °C to −130 °C), particularly in 9% Ni steel due to its BCC crystal structure. However, at −160 °C and below, the effect of hydrogen embrittlement was suppressed mainly owing to the reduced hydrogen diffusivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the transition from ductile to brittle fracture with decreasing temperature and hydrogen influences. At −253 °C, fully brittle fracture surfaces were observed in all specimens, confirming that at ultra-low temperatures, fracture behavior is dominated by temperature effects rather than hydrogen. These findings identify a practical temperature limit (approximately −160 °C) below which hydrogen embrittlement becomes negligible, providing critical insights for the design and application of structural materials in hydrogen cryogenic environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fatigue, Fracture, and Multiaxial Integrity of Metallic Structure Materials: From Microstructure to Data-Driven Assessment)
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