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Polymers
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Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition
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Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 6493

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emilia P. Collar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymer Engineering Group (GIP), Polymer Science and Technology Institute (ICTP), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
Interests: polymers and environment; heterogeneous materials based on polymers; polyolefins; interfacial agents; interphase; interface; functionalization; plastic wastes; blends; composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jesús-María García-Martínez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymer Engineering Group (GIP), Polymer Science and Technology Institute (ICTP), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
Interests: polymers and environment; heterogeneous materials based on polymers; polyolefins; interfacial agents; interphase; interface; functionalization; plastic wastes; blends; composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials—materials that are either partially or wholly polymer-based—have been routinely used within the last century in a growing number of applications, particularly in the context of a circular economy in the three main sectors of transport, communications, and health. Applications both old and new share the need for adequate structural integrity for their respective contexts. Some questions in this regard include how to measure such structural integrity; how to study it; how a crack appears; how and when a failure becomes catastrophic; how the processing determines the mechanical responses of any polymeric material; and how the aging and external environment or the recycled material fraction may affect mechanical behavior. Research works devoted to these and related topics will be welcome to this Special Issue entitled “Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies”.

Dr. Emilia P. Collar
Dr. Jesús-María García-Martínez
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

  • mechanical properties
  • fracture
  • failure
  • standardizations
  • modeling and forecasting
  • mechanical behavior–processing relationship

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3825 KiB  
Article
Influence of CNT Filler in Polymer Matrix on Impact Damage Propagation in the Volume of Carbon Fiber Laminates
by Egor Morokov, Pavel Shershak, Mikhail Burkov, Alexander Eremin, Elizaveta Popkova, Nikolay Yakovlev and Irina Zhiltsova
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070891 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 221
Abstract
The addition of nano-sized fillers into the polymer matrix of carbon fiber laminates is considered today as one of the ways of increasing the strength and resistance of the material to mechanical loads. The paper considers the effect of the addition of single-walled [...] Read more.
The addition of nano-sized fillers into the polymer matrix of carbon fiber laminates is considered today as one of the ways of increasing the strength and resistance of the material to mechanical loads. The paper considers the effect of the addition of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the development of impact damage in laminates. Studies of the volume microstructure and its damage were carried out using high-resolution ultrasound imaging. The effect of damage propagation in laminates with an increase in the concentration of CNTs from 0 to 0.5 wt% was shown. The addition of CNTs decreased the area of damage in the upper and lower part of laminates but increased the area of damage in the middle plies. The results were discussed in combination with data on impact histories of laminates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2641 KiB  
Article
Advanced Prediction and Analysis of Delamination Failure in Graphite-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Using VCCT-Based Finite Element Modelling Techniques
by Ahmed F. Mohamed, Mohammed Y. Abdellah, Mohamed K. Hassan and Ahmed H. Backar
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060771 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 418
Abstract
The applications of graphite-reinforced composite laminates have gained significant importance since the last century and remain a highly attractive field due to their widespread and versatile applications. Among the various failure modes, delamination—defined as the separation of layers within the composite structure—stands out [...] Read more.
The applications of graphite-reinforced composite laminates have gained significant importance since the last century and remain a highly attractive field due to their widespread and versatile applications. Among the various failure modes, delamination—defined as the separation of layers within the composite structure—stands out as the most common and critical type of failure in these materials. In this study, the mode I interlaminar fracture energy was predicted using the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) integrated with a finite element model (FEM), applied to a double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen. Additionally, a straightforward analytical model was developed to calculate the critical fracture energy in mode I. The analytical model used the material strength and stiffness. The results demonstrated strong agreement with experimental data, with a margin of error as low as 5%, highlighting the accuracy and reliability of the proposed methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 4277 KiB  
Article
Stress Analysis and Strength Prediction of Carbon Fiber Composite Laminates with Multiple Holes Using Cohesive Zone Models
by Hamzah Alharthi and Mohammed Y. Abdellah
Polymers 2025, 17(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17010124 - 6 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 889
Abstract
Composite materials play a crucial role in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding. These materials differ from traditional metals due to their high specific strength and low weight, which reduce energy consumption in these industries. The damage behavior of such materials, especially [...] Read more.
Composite materials play a crucial role in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding. These materials differ from traditional metals due to their high specific strength and low weight, which reduce energy consumption in these industries. The damage behavior of such materials, especially when subjected to stress discontinuities such as central holes, differs significantly from materials without holes. This study examines this difference and predicts the damage behavior of carbon fiber composites with multiple holes using a progressive damage model through finite element analysis (FEM). Two holes were positioned along the central axis of symmetry in the longitudinal and transverse directions relative to the load. The presence of additional holes acts as a stress-relief factor, reducing stress by up to 17% when the holes are arranged in the longitudinal direction. A cohesive zone model with two parameters, including constant and linear shapes, was applied to develop a simple analytical model for calculating the nominal strength of multi-hole composite laminates, based on the unnotched plate properties of the material. The results closely match experimental findings. The data also provide design tables that can assist with material selection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 26471 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of U-Notch and V-Notch Geometries on the Mechanical Behavior of PVDF: The DIC Technique and FEA Approach
by Ingrid C. S. Pereira, José Renato M. de Sousa and Celio A. Costa
Polymers 2024, 16(20), 2906; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202906 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1408
Abstract
The notch effect of semicrystalline PVDF was investigated using U- and V-notch geometries with different depths, and tensile tests were performed at 23 °C using the DIC technique and FEA. Both unnotched and notched dumbbell-shaped specimens were subjected to tensile loading with the [...] Read more.
The notch effect of semicrystalline PVDF was investigated using U- and V-notch geometries with different depths, and tensile tests were performed at 23 °C using the DIC technique and FEA. Both unnotched and notched dumbbell-shaped specimens were subjected to tensile loading with the DIC technique to obtain mechanical curves and strain maps. The experimental data were compared to a numerical model, analyzing both global mechanical curves and local strain maps around the notch region to assess the accuracy of the simulations. The results demonstrated that the geometry and depth of the notch influence the mechanical behavior of PVDF, presenting a decrease in load and displacement compared to unnotched specimens. This aspect was corroborated by strain maps, which showed the increase in the local strain around the notch tip. For FEA, the global analysis indicated a good correlation with experimental results, and the local analysis demonstrated a reasonable agreement in strain map results within 0.5 mm of the notch neighborhood. Overall, the DIC technique and FEA provided a reliable evaluation of notch behavior on the PVDF used as pressure sheaths with reasonable precision. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 4250 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of Glycidyl Azide Polyol Energetic Thermoplastic Elastomer Binder with RDX Composite
by Qili Sun, Xiao-Mei Yang and Guang-Zhong Yin
Polymers 2024, 16(18), 2626; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16182626 - 17 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1414
Abstract
To improve the reinforcement effect between a binder and high solid filler in a propellant formula, grafting the bonding group into the binder to form a neutral polymeric is a practically novel approach to improving the interface properties of the propellant. In this [...] Read more.
To improve the reinforcement effect between a binder and high solid filler in a propellant formula, grafting the bonding group into the binder to form a neutral polymeric is a practically novel approach to improving the interface properties of the propellant. In this work, a glycidyl azide polyol energetic thermoplastic elastomer binder with a –CN bonding group (GAP–ETPE) was synthesized, and the mechanical and thermal decomposition mechanism of GAP–ETPE with Hexogeon (RDX) model propellants were studied. The stress–strain results indicated that the tensile strength and strain of GAP–ETPE/RDX model propellants were 6.43 MPa and 32.1%, respectively. DMA data showed that the storage modulus (E’) of the GAP–ETPE/RDX model propellants could increase the glass transition temperature (Tg) values, those were shifted to higher temperature with the increase in filler RDX percentages. TG/DTG showed the four decomposition stages of the decomposition process of the GAP–ETPE/RDX model propellants, and the thermal decomposition equation was constructed. These efforts provide a novel method to improve GAP–ETPE/RDX propellants mechanical property, and the thermal decomposition behavior of GAP–ETPE/RDX propellants also provided technical support for the study of propellant combustion characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 6075 KiB  
Article
Material Performance Evaluation for Customized Orthoses: Compression, Flexural, and Tensile Tests Combined with Finite Element Analysis
by Daniela Trindade, Rachel Habiba, Cristiana Fernandes, André A. Costa, Rui Silva, Nuno Alves, Rui Martins, Cândida Malça, Ricardo Branco and Carla Moura
Polymers 2024, 16(18), 2553; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16182553 - 10 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
Orthoses are commonly used for treating injuries to improve the quality of life of patients, with customized orthoses offering significant benefits. Additive manufacturing, especially fused deposition modelling, enhances these benefits by providing faster, more precise, and more comfortable orthoses. The present study evaluates [...] Read more.
Orthoses are commonly used for treating injuries to improve the quality of life of patients, with customized orthoses offering significant benefits. Additive manufacturing, especially fused deposition modelling, enhances these benefits by providing faster, more precise, and more comfortable orthoses. The present study evaluates nine polymeric materials printed in horizontal and vertical directions by assessing their performance through compressive, flexural, and tensile tests. Among all materials, polycarbonate, polylactic acid, and ULTEMTM 1010 showed the most promising results, not only because they had the highest mechanical values, but also due to their minimal or no difference in performance between printing directions, making them advantageous in orthoses fabrication. Based on this, a finite element model of an ankle–foot orthosis was developed to simulate the deformation, strain, and stress fields under static conditions. The findings aim to optimize material selection for orthotic fabrication, where ULTEMTM 1010 is presented as the material with improved performance and durability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Materials: Recent Studies, 2nd Edition)
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