Focus and Scope

Functional Materials and Sustainable Structural Composites (FMSSC) specialises in composites, smart materials, and durability studies. Its advantage is the very large materials engineering research community and global interest in sustainable structural solutions. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Advanced composite materials – polymer-, metal-, ceramic-, and carbon-matrix composites for load-bearing and multifunctional engineering applications.

  • Sustainable structural solutions – bio-based, recycled, upcycled, and low-carbon-footprint materials; life-cycle assessment and eco-design of structural composites.

  • Smart and responsive materials – shape-memory alloys/polymers, self-sensing, self-healing, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, and electro-/thermo-responsive systems for structural health monitoring and adaptive performance.

  • Durability and degradation mechanisms – fatigue, creep, fracture, corrosion, moisture absorption, thermal aging, UV degradation, and combined environmental effects on composite performance.

  • Multifunctional integration – structural materials with embedded energy harvesting, storage, thermal management, EMI shielding, or sensing capabilities without compromising mechanical integrity.

  • Interface and interphase engineering – fibre/matrix, particle/matrix, and layered interface design for improved adhesion, stress transfer, and long-term reliability.

  • Manufacturing and processing for sustainability – low-energy, zero-waste, additive manufacturing, automated fibre placement, and out-of-autoclave techniques for scalable, reproducible composite production.

  • Characterisation and modelling – multiscale (nano–micro–macro) experimental techniques, computational mechanics, machine-learning-assisted design, and predictive lifetime modelling of functional and structural composites.

  • Recyclability and end-of-life strategies – circular economy approaches, reversible crosslinking, thermoplastic composites, and disassembly/remanufacturing of structural components.

  • Field applications and performance validation – aerospace, automotive, civil infrastructure, marine, renewable energy (wind/tidal), and protective structures under real-world service conditions.