Fracture Mechanics of Soft Polymer Composites and Polymeric Advanced Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 1006

Special Issue Editors

Institute of Biomechanics, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
Interests: computational modeling; biomechanics; fracture mechanics; fracture of polymers and biological tissues
Department of Engineering and Architecture, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
Interests: computational physics-based modeling; smart materials; functional polymers; programmable response; morphing; bioinspired programmable matter; mechanical behavior of 3D printed polymers
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, Parma, Italy
Interests: mechanics of solids; fracture; fatigue; damage; contact mechanics; buckling of structures; nonlinear mechanical models
Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Interests: additive manufacturing; solid mechanics; computational biomechanics; motion analysis; descriptive statistics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soft polymer composites and, more generally, polymeric advanced materials are widespread in engineered materials and as the basic building blocks of many biological tissues. Despite the differences, their structured molecular networks share common fundamental mechanical principles. Entropy controls the behavior of classical polymeric networks, wherein stored mechanical energy is mainly determined by the network configuration. On the other hand, significant enthalpic contributions and bending-related deformation are relevant in biopolymers.

The unique behavior in the presence of fracture is among the most remarkable features of the mechanics of soft polymer composites. The reorientation of polymeric chains along the direction of applied deformation enables soft polymers to withstand severe deformations, without being damaged or ruptured. Similarly, stress concentration around cracks is mitigated by the rearrangement of polymeric chains, which can result in an exceptional flaw tolerance. Furthermore, energy dissipation and stress relaxation are inherent to the mechanics of polymers and can be harnessed to control the fracture behavior of engineered polymeric composites and advanced materials.

These features have sparked the interest of material scientists in the fracture mechanics of soft polymer composites, and polymeric advanced materials (e.g. smart polymers, hydrogels, etc.), which is the topic of this Special Issue of Polymers. Cutting-edge applications concern the development of bioinspired materials, smart polymers, the design of tough hydrogels and polymeric composites with improved fatigue properties, and the optimization of 3D printing technologies. This is a field where experiments, fundamental principles of chemistry and physics, and computer simulations must go hand in hand. Contributions that focus on innovative applications, as well as experimental and computational approaches bridging different spatial and temporal scales, are encouraged.

Dr. Michele Terzano
Dr. Mattia Pancrazio Cosma
Prof. Dr. Andrea Spagnoli
Dr. Dan Ioan Stoia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • polymers composites
  • advanced materials
  • bioinspired materials
  • biological tissues
  • molecular models
  • computational mechanics
  • fracture mechanics
  • fatigue
  • damage
  • viscoelasticity

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 9950 KiB  
Article
Impact Response of Monolithic and Laminated Polycarbonate Panels: An Experimental and Numerical Investigation
by Navid Ghavanini, Antonio Maria Caporale, Paolo Astori, Alessandro Airoldi and Paolo Panichelli
Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4677; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244677 - 11 Dec 2023
Viewed by 736
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the impact resistance of monolithic and laminated polycarbonate plates for windshields in motorsport applications through a coupled experimental–numerical study. Both low- and high-velocity impact tests were performed by using a drop tower and a gas gun, respectively, considering [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the impact resistance of monolithic and laminated polycarbonate plates for windshields in motorsport applications through a coupled experimental–numerical study. Both low- and high-velocity impact tests were performed by using a drop tower and a gas gun, respectively, considering a sharp-edged projectile impacting on flat panels. The response of the polycarbonate plates was evaluated in terms of the failure mode, perforation velocity threshold, and energy absorption mechanism. The experiments allowed for the assessment and the generalization of a 3D finite element modeling approach originally developed for supersonic application based on different state-of-the-art constitutive theories, including temperature-dependent and rate-dependent von Mises plasticity coupled with ductile damage, Mie–Grüneisen equation of state, and temperature variation due to energy dissipation under adiabatic assumptions. The approach was completed with a cohesive zone model for a laminate plate and studies were performed to highlight the relevancy of different aspects of material characterization. The tests and numerical analyses performed at different velocity ranges highlight the importance of viscoplastic behavior in a polycarbonate windshield. The numerical approach showed its capability to model the different failure modes for monolithic and laminated panels and capture the perforation velocity thresholds with appreciable accuracy, which were actually found to be quite similar for the two types of panels in the test conditions considered. A numerical investigation suggests that the development of delaminations could lead to the improved energy absorption of laminated polycarbonate. To further assess the numerical model, it was used to successfully predict the penetration threshold velocity of a polycarbonate windshield subjected to a gas gun impact test. Full article
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