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Polymers
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Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials
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Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4250

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shaowei Zhu

E-Mail
Guest Editor
College of Aerospace Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Interests: lightweight structures; mechanical metamaterials; fiber-reinforced composites; machine learning; mechanical property
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lianchao Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IMDEA Materials Institute, Madrid, Spain
Interests: mechanics; metamaterials; structures; auxetics; tunable mechanical behaviors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their wide-ranging engineering applications, lightweight composite structures and mechanical metamaterials have attracted substantial academic attention in recent years. Key challenges in this field include prototype design, material utilization, fabrication, testing, analysis, and the utilization of new tools such as machine learning and data-driven methods. These issues are critical for the advancement and application of lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials. We eagerly anticipate researchers from various disciplines to contribute their solutions to these challenges.

We cordially invite scholars from around the world to submit advanced research reports in these fields, focusing on the following topics of interest:

  • Lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials prepared from polymers or polymer-based composites;
  • Lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials prepared from soft materials;
  • Novel design concepts for lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials;
  • Three-dimensional (3D) printing of lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials;
  • Testing and analysis of lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials;
  • Impact response and dynamic behaviors of lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials;
  • Lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials for impact protection and safety engineering;
  • Data-driven and machine learning-based research on lightweight structures and mechanical metamaterials;
  • Connection and 3D printing of polymer-based composite materials;
  • Polymer-based composite materials and structures for sustainable development.

Other topics on lightweight composite structures and mechanical metamaterials are also welcome.

Dr. Shaowei Zhu
Dr. Lianchao Wang
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. Polymers 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 2700 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

  • composite structures
  • mechanical metamaterials
  • lightweight structures
  • polymer-based composites
  • 3D printing
  • application of polymer and polymer-based composites
  • data-driven research on lightweight structures

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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22 pages, 3660 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Particle–Matrix Interface on the Local Mechanical Properties of Filled Polymer Composites: Simulations and Theoretical Analysis
by Timur A. Nadzharyan and Elena Yu. Kramarenko
Polymers 2025, 17(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17010111 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 927
Abstract
A finite element model of the local mechanical response of a filled polymer composite to uniaxial compression is presented. The interfacial layer between filler particles and polymer matrix is explicitly modeled as a third phase of the composite. Unit cells containing one or [...] Read more.
A finite element model of the local mechanical response of a filled polymer composite to uniaxial compression is presented. The interfacial layer between filler particles and polymer matrix is explicitly modeled as a third phase of the composite. Unit cells containing one or several anisometric filler particles surrounded by interface shells are considered. The dependence of the mechanical response of the cells to external deformation on the interface thickness and stiffness is studied. The use of the particle–matrix interface as a damping tool in mesoscopic polymer-composite problems with large deformations is discussed. The influence of the interface on the anisotropy of the composite response is considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials)
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19 pages, 9194 KiB  
Article
High-Velocity Impact Performance of Ballistic Fabric Using Core-Spun Compound Yarns
by Dan Yang, Shengdong Liu, Weitian Zhang, Qian Liu, Gaozheng Yao and Kai Zhu
Polymers 2024, 16(21), 2973; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16212973 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 968
Abstract
In this paper, the usage of core-spun compound yarns in ballistic fabric to improve ballistic performance is considered, as with the use of core-spun compound yarns, the yarn friction inside the fabric is enhanced, and, therefore, the energy absorption capability of the fabric [...] Read more.
In this paper, the usage of core-spun compound yarns in ballistic fabric to improve ballistic performance is considered, as with the use of core-spun compound yarns, the yarn friction inside the fabric is enhanced, and, therefore, the energy absorption capability of the fabric is expected to increase. Three types of fabric were developed and compared. Fa refers to a woven type made with 100% Kevlar® filament yarns. Fb was woven with core-spun compound aramid yarns, which were made of Kevlar® filament yarns spun with staple aramid fiber. Fc was woven with core-spun compound polyester yarns, which were made of Kevlar® filament yarns spun with staple polyester fiber. There were two main purposes for comparing these types. The first was to confirm if the ballistic performance could be improved with the usage of core-spun compound yarns instead of pure filament yarns. The second was to investigate if different compositions of spun fiber would influence ballistic performance. The research results are positive and quite interesting. They show that the usage of core-spun compound yarn could indeed help to increase ballistic performance and that core-spun compound aramid yarns are better than core-spun compound polyester yarns in this function. The research was carried out using both ballistic tests and FEA models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials)
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11 pages, 8247 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Composite Honeycomb Sandwich Panels after Fatigue in Hygrothermal Environments
by Ming Zhao, Haibo Jin, Zhaoxin Yun, Zhengwei Meng and Wei Zhang
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2497; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172497 - 1 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1578
Abstract
Since carbon fibre composite sandwich structures have high specific strength and specific modulus, which can meet the requirements for the development of aircraft technology, more and more extensive attention has been paid to their residual mechanical properties after subjecting them to fatigue loading [...] Read more.
Since carbon fibre composite sandwich structures have high specific strength and specific modulus, which can meet the requirements for the development of aircraft technology, more and more extensive attention has been paid to their residual mechanical properties after subjecting them to fatigue loading in hygrothermal environments. In this paper, the compression and shear characteristics of carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy composite honeycomb sandwich wall panels after fatigue in hygrothermal environments are investigated through experiments. The experimental results show that under compressive loading, the load required for the buckling of composite honeycomb sandwich wall panels after fatigue loading in hygrothermal environments decreases by 25.9% and the damage load decreases by 10.5% compared to those at room temperature. Under shear loading, the load required for buckling to occur is reduced by 26.2% and the breaking load by 12.2% compared to those at room temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials)
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Review

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32 pages, 2930 KiB  
Review
3D Printing Continuous Fiber Reinforced Polymers: A Review of Material Selection, Process, and Mechanics-Function Integration for Targeted Applications
by Haoyuan Zheng, Shaowei Zhu, Liming Chen, Lianchao Wang, Hanbo Zhang, Peixu Wang, Kefan Sun, Haorui Wang and Chengtao Liu
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121601 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 204
Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D)-printed continuous fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) technology has provided novel strategies for customized manufacturing of high-performance composites. This review systematically summarizes research advancements in material systems, processing methods, mechanical performance regulation, and functional applications of this [...] Read more.
In recent years, the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D)-printed continuous fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) technology has provided novel strategies for customized manufacturing of high-performance composites. This review systematically summarizes research advancements in material systems, processing methods, mechanical performance regulation, and functional applications of this technology. Material-wise, the analysis focuses on the performance characteristics and application scenarios of carbon fibers, glass fibers, and natural fibers, alongside discussions on the processing behaviors of thermoplastic matrices such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK). At the process level, the advantages and limitations of fused deposition modeling (FDM) and photopolymerization techniques are compared, with emphasis on their impact on fiber–matrix interfaces. The review further examines the regulatory mechanisms of fiber orientation, volume fraction, and other parameters on mechanical properties, as well as implementation pathways for functional designs, such as electrical conductivity and self-sensing capabilities. Application case studies in aerospace lightweight structures and automotive energy-absorbing components are comprehensively analyzed. Current challenges are highlighted, and future directions proposed, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven process optimization and multi-material hybrid manufacturing. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current achievements in 3D printing CFRP technology and a forward-looking analysis of existing challenges, offering a systematic reference for accelerating the transformation of 3D printing CFRP technology from laboratory research to industrial-scale implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Composite Structures and Mechanical Metamaterials)
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