Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120846
Siting Hao, Hui Sheng, Haiqin Li, Qian Ding
{"title":"Hierarchical auxetic metamaterials for adjustable quasi-static and dynamic behaviors","authors":"Siting Hao, Hui Sheng, Haiqin Li, Qian Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a pair of hierarchical auxetic metamaterials that enable on-demand switching between distinct quasi-static and dynamic behaviors through simple structural reconfiguration. The auxetic column (AC) consists of inner steel cores embedded in an auxetic rubber layer, which can be further wrapped with periodic tubulars (PT) to form an alternative configuration (ACPT). Comprehensive numerical simulations including finite element analysis and reduced-order modelling, together with experimental measurements, are conducted to evaluate quasi-static compression properties, bandgap characteristics and impact response. Results reveal that AC excels in energy absorption and impact mitigation, while ACPT achieves superior load-bearing capacity and broadband low-frequency vibration isolation. The two configurations rely on fundamentally different bandgap mechanisms, and parametric analysis further demonstrates that the geometric features of the auxetic unit can effectively tailor the bandgaps. The proposed design offers a promising paradigm for lightweight multifunctional structures that require adjustable and application-oriented mechanical performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"396 ","pages":"Article 120846"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148937053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120814
Chongjie Kang, Kleo Lila, Jiafeng Zhou, Miao Su, Michael Todd
{"title":"Experimental and numerical investigation of transverse cracking in hybrid GFRP–steel lap-spliced reinforced concrete members using multi-sensor monitoring","authors":"Chongjie Kang, Kleo Lila, Jiafeng Zhou, Miao Su, Michael Todd","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work investigates transverse crack behavior in concrete elements reinforced with hybrid lap-spliced connections of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and stainless steel bars subjected to four-point flexural load. To obtain cracking patterns, four sensor technologies are employed. Specifically, six linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are mounted on the bottom concrete surface of the specimens; one Epsilon distributed fiber optic sensor (DFOS) is embedded directly in the concrete; besides, three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) is applied to the bottom surface, and 2D-DIC monitors one side surface. Consequently, the advantages and limitations of the used technologies are evaluated. Then, numerical models based on a calibration framework are developed to validate the experiments. The results show strong agreement across different measurement techniques and the numerical simulations, confirming consistent trends in load bearing and crack behavior. Furthermore, the validated models are extended to explore untested optimal lap-splice lengths. Consequently, 600 mm is identified as the optimal length under those conditions. However, this value shows significant discrepancies compared to those calculated according to various standards. In addition, positioning splices in an adjacent way can yield slightly performance gains (<5%), while enhancing load redistribution and promoting a more uniformly distributed crack pattern.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"396 ","pages":"Article 120814"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148937050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120789
Shuo Li, Yi Jiao, Zhengjiang Wu, Di Wu, Li Li
{"title":"Nonlocality-informed homogenization network for cellular beams","authors":"Shuo Li, Yi Jiao, Zhengjiang Wu, Di Wu, Li Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite extensive advances in homogenization models and physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), a critical challenge remains in quantitatively linking microstructural features of cellular beams to their macroscopic bending responses. Classical local continuum models cannot reproduce the size-dependent responses of finite cellular structures when scale separation is weakened, while PINNs remain highly dependent on the availability of physically consistent training data. To address these fundamental challenges, this study establishes a two-phase nonlocal model by introducing intrinsic lengths to capture the size-dependent mechanical behavior. Building upon this physically grounded model, a nonlocality-informed homogenization network (NIHN) framework is developed by incorporating the nonlocal governing relations into a neural network architecture. Unlike conventional PINNs, the proposed NIHN integrates microstructure-dependent global observables derived from a curated offline dataset as physically consistent constraints for size-dependent responses. Furthermore, a data-model decoupled two-stage iterative optimization strategy is introduced to mitigate parameter-network compensation and enhance convergence stability. Comprehensive validations across diverse architected cellular structures demonstrate that the proposed framework accurately predicts size-dependent bending responses while significantly reducing computational cost compared with full-scale simulations. This work establishes an accelerated multiscale analysis paradigm for cellular structures that maintains high fidelity, providing significant practical value for advanced engineering design applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"396 ","pages":"Article 120789"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148953459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-14DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120654
Gabriela de Freitas Gandorphi, Mauricio Vicente Donadon, Rafael Thiago Luiz Ferreira
{"title":"Enhanced parameterization for variable stiffness laminated composite panels: Buckling optimization based on a semi-analytical model","authors":"Gabriela de Freitas Gandorphi, Mauricio Vicente Donadon, Rafael Thiago Luiz Ferreira","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to tailored stiffness distribution and enhanced performance, variable stiffness composites (VSC) have been a recent research focus. Variable angle tow (VAT) panels have improved buckling from curvilinear fiber paths within laminae. However, manufacturing still presents challenges. Overlaps and gaps are common in automated fiber placement (AFP); continuous tow shearing (CTS) may present irregular thicknesses. This work presents an alternative fiber tow path parameterization named the QP (quasi-parallel), inspired by fused filament fabrication (FFF), which generates offset curves from a reference path, minimizing overlaps and gaps, while maintaining constant thickness. Buckling performance is investigated for VAT and QP parameterizations, comparing optimal VSC to constant stiffness composites (CSC). Linear buckling of cylindrical panels is evaluated with a semi-analytical framework based on Sanders’ shell formulation and Rayleigh–Ritz solution, including compression-shear combinations, enabling efficient optimization. Numerous case studies are investigated, considering variations in loading, aspect ratio and panel curvature. Graphical search and simulated annealing (SA) optimization are employed to identify optimal designs. Both QP and VAT parameterizations show buckling improvement over CSC. The QP method delivers up to 40% increases for a square compressed plate. Advantages and limitations, such as the need for tow curvature constraint, are discussed for insights on VSC design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120654"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-13DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120660
Philippe Blais, Lotfi Toubal, Redouane Zitoune
{"title":"Fatigue behavior of assembled carbon/epoxy–titanium hybrid stacks with drilling-induced hole defects","authors":"Philippe Blais, Lotfi Toubal, Redouane Zitoune","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fatigue performance of multi-material composite–titanium stacks is a critical issue in aerospace structures, where drilling-induced defects can strongly influence damage initiation and lifetime. In such assemblies, the entire stack is often drilled in a single operation, leading to suboptimal machining conditions for at least one material. This study investigates the influence of drilling-induced hole characteristics on the fatigue behavior of carbon/epoxy–titanium hybrid stacks. Abrasive waterjet and conventional drilling processes are compared through open-hole and assembled fatigue tests. Fatigue crack propagation in open-hole specimens and stiffness evolution in assembled joints are modelled to identify damage initiation thresholds. Post-drilling hole characteristics are quantitatively measured and correlated with the model parameters. In the open-hole configuration, fatigue failure is governed by titanium cracking, with crack initiation occurring earlier for conventionally drilled holes, primarily correlated with titanium surface roughness. In assembled fatigue tests, damage initiation and lifetime are instead controlled by hole conicity, with abrasive waterjet drilling leading to earlier damage initiation and reduced fatigue life. These results highlight the critical role of drilling-induced geometric and surface defects on fatigue damage mechanisms in hybrid composite–titanium joints and provide guidelines for process optimization to improve fatigue performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120660"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120657
Hugo C. Biscaia, Alba Codina, Mehdi Aghabagloo, Cristina Barris
{"title":"Intermediate crack-induced debonding of CFRP-to-concrete joints with transversely compressed mechanical anchorages","authors":"Hugo C. Biscaia, Alba Codina, Mehdi Aghabagloo, Cristina Barris","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with externally bonded (EB) carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) is frequently limited by intermediate crack debonding (ICD). Although some analytical and numerical studies have investigated ICD in conventional CFRP-to-concrete joints, the behaviour of hybrid bonded joints with transversely compressed mechanical anchorages remains poorly understood, particularly regarding the influence of the anchorage location. This study introduces a new Finite Difference Method (FDM) formulation that simulates the end debonding (ED) and ICD in mechanically anchored CFRP-to-concrete joints. Unlike existing bond-slip formulations, the proposed exponential relationship is based on an odd and continuous function, enabling stable modelling of opposite slip signs developed between adjacent cracks under variable load ratios. The model also allows the analysis of different anchorage locations along the bonded interface, which has barely been addressed in previous ICD studies available in the literature. Sixty numerical cases combining different crack spacings, load ratios, and anchorage configurations were analysed and validated against Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach accurately reproduces the load-slip response and provides an efficient tool for assessing ICD mechanisms in hybrid CFRP-strengthened RC beams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120657"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-28DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120711
Zhijie Li, Ben Deng, Fangyu Peng, Aodi Yan, Jiale Yi, Jinguo Shen, Xiangyang Du
{"title":"Stress-oriented path planning for 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber composites under combined tensile-compressive stress states","authors":"Zhijie Li, Ben Deng, Fangyu Peng, Aodi Yan, Jiale Yi, Jinguo Shen, Xiangyang Du","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Continuous carbon fiber composites exhibit high strength, modulus in the fiber direction and significant anisotropy. In 3D printing, planning fiber paths along the stress direction enhances the axial reinforcement effect, improving the overall mechanical properties of the printed part. However, for parts under three-dimensional spatial loads, traditional planar slicing methods limit the consistency between stress direction and fiber orientation. At the same time, the internal stress state of parts becomes more complex, with both tensile and compressive stresses possibly coexisting in the same area. This paper presents a stress-oriented curved slicing and path planning methodology for parts under combined tensile-compressive stress states. It also researches variable stiffness for adaptive control over trajectory density and stress magnitude. Mechanical tests were conducted to validate the proposed method. The results demonstrated that the stress-oriented path outperforms the conventional planar slicing configurations with cross-path, with improvements ranging from a minimum of 26.9% in maximum load and 51.5% in compressive stiffness (compared to the XZ slicing method) to a maximum of 213% and 339%, respectively (compared to the YZ slicing method). Furthermore, the variable stiffness technique enhanced the maximum load and compressive stiffness by 8.85% and 20.83%, respectively. The proposed method can leverage the improving effect of fibers along the axial direction of the part, enhancing the mechanical properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120711"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120679
Yaoxin Huang, Yu Zhang, Erasmo Carrera
{"title":"Mechanical behaviors of bioinspired helicoidal laminates with cracks: an extended isogeometric analysis approach","authors":"Yaoxin Huang, Yu Zhang, Erasmo Carrera","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioinspired helicoidal composite structures possess exceptional damage tolerance; yet they remain susceptible to fractures under high-intensity operational stresses. Consequently, evaluating the mechanical performance of such structures in the presence of defects is essential for reliable engineering implementation. This study presents a numerical investigation into the free vibration and bending behaviors of bioinspired helicoidal laminated composite plates containing center and edge cracks. An Extended Isogeometric Analysis (XIGA) framework is employed to model the plate kinematics, utilizing Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basis functions in conjunction with First-Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) to accurately capture discontinuity fields without mesh refinement difficulties. Six distinct bioinspired architectures (Helicoidal Recursive, Helicoidal Exponential, Helicoidal Semi-circular, Linear Helicoidal, Fibonacci Helicoidal and Quasi-isotropic) are analyzed and benchmarked against conventional quasi-isotropic laminates. The investigation systematically evaluates the influence of crack length, layer count, layup configuration, slenderness ratio, modulus ratio, and boundary conditions on the structural response. Numerical results indicate that the Helicoidal Recursive and Linear Helicoidal configurations generally exhibit smoother changes in natural frequency and central deflection as crack length increases. In contrast, the Helicoidal Semi-circular configurations, especially HS2 (Type two of Helicoidal Semi-circular) in several cases, show stronger sensitivity to crack growth. The Fibonacci Helicoidal configuration exhibits comparatively stable behavior when the crack position changes from center to edge under simply supported boundary conditions. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of the XIGA approach for analyzing complex bioinspired laminates and offer useful insights for optimizing defect-tolerant composite designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120679"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ballistic penetration resistance of soft targets with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene 4UD structure","authors":"Qiangang Shuai, Ping Liu, Yanfeng Niu, Fubao Zhang, Shuangqing Qian, Jiang Wu, Tianyi Gu, Hao Zou, Yanfeng Cao, Susu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To quantify the energy dissipation behavior of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) 4UD structures against projectile penetration, ballistic experiments and numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the penetration process of 7.62 mm lead-core projectiles into 4UD structures. A Markov random field K-means++ model incorporating physical damage constraints was employed to characterize the damage morphology of the soft-target 4UD structures, and the anti-penetration performance of 4UD targets with different layer counts (areal densities) was investigated. The results indicate that the inter-layer damage of 4UD soft targets exhibits a significant layer-count threshold effect, and the damage extent of a single layer at the same layer position is highly correlated with the total number of layers. The ballistic limit velocity of the 20-layer 4UD target reaches 531.2 m/s; beyond target perforation, the energy dissipation efficiency decreases, and further increase in layer count leads to saturation of protective gain. The findings provide theoretical basis and data support for lightweight layup design of UHMWPE soft protective structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120673"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Composite StructuresPub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-18DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120667
Ali Azzam, Emad El Din El-kashif, Mostafa Shazly
{"title":"An integrated experimental and numerical study on X52 dented pipelines repair using composite sleeve reinforcement","authors":"Ali Azzam, Emad El Din El-kashif, Mostafa Shazly","doi":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The primary focus of this study is to enhance the capability of pipeline integrity management in addressing dent defects using reliable repair techniques, experimental validation, and predictive finite element analysis (FEA). Burst testing of dent-defective API 5 L X52 carbon steel pipes repaired with fiberglass composite sleeves demonstrated that this method effectively restored the structural integrity and improved the service life. A highly accurate FEA model was developed and validated against experimental data, achieving an exceptional correlation with errors consistently below 1%, supporting its predictive capability for the dented and repaired pipeline configurations investigated in this study. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the experimental results quantified the practical significance of each parameter, identifying dent depth as the dominant factor in terms of Sum of Squares-based contribution (39.2%), followed by dent diameter (22%), and composite repair (12.86%). Although the dent diameter showed slightly higher statistical sensitivity based on the F-values, this reflects the distinction between effect magnitude and statistical significance. Owing to the limited sample size and lack of replication, the statistical analysis was intended to highlight relative trends rather than establish definitive significance. The results demonstrate that although undented pipes are superior, composite repair significantly minimizes the devastating drop in burst pressure associated with increased dent depth, thereby mitigating the detrimental impact of dents. This study demonstrates that fiberglass composite repairs provide a promising repair solution for improving the structural integrity of dented pipelines within the investigated conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":281,"journal":{"name":"Composite Structures","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 120667"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148645949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}