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        <title>Frontiers in Materials | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Materials | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-09-09T21:14:13.337+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1953879</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1953879</link>
        <title><![CDATA[High-performance soft magnetic composites for high-frequency power electronics: a review of insulating coating technologies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Jianing Peng</author><author>Xuanyi Zhang</author><author>Baowen Xing</author><author>Jingrui Liu</author><author>Chengxu Duan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The rapid commercialization of wide-bandgap silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices is pushing power electronics into the megahertz regime. Conventional ferrites have become a critical bottleneck because of their low saturation magnetization and sharply increasing high-frequency loss, whereas soft magnetic composites (SMCs) with high magnetic induction and low loss have therefore attracted increasing attention. The macroscopic magnetic performance of SMCs is governed by the microstructure and interfacial characteristics of the insulating coating on magnetic powders. This review summarizes recent progress in insulating coating technologies for SMCs intended for high-frequency power electronics. It first discusses the origin of high-frequency eddy-current loss and the key design requirements for insulating layers. It then traces the development of coating strategies from organic coatings to inorganic, composite, and nanoscale coatings, with emphasis on the process-structure-property relationships of phosphate, oxide, glass/ceramic, and atomic-layer-deposited (ALD) oxide systems. From the perspective of interface engineering, the review further examines how core-shell architectures suppress eddy currents while preserving acceptable permeability, highlighting the trade-offs among coating thickness, uniformity, adhesion, and magnetic dilution. Finally, the performance of representative coating routes is compared in terms of high-frequency loss reduction, thermal stability, and manufacturing feasibility, and future challenges and opportunities are discussed. This review provides a systematic framework for the rational design of next-generation high-performance SMCs for high-frequency power electronics.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1906244</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1906244</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Bayesian optimization driven co-regulation of composition design and sintering process parameters for piezoelectric ceramics]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tiantian Cheng</author><author>Junfeng Luo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[With the continuous increase in demand for high-performance piezoelectric materials in advanced electronic devices, the traditional trial and error method dominated research and development mode of piezoelectric ceramics has core problems such as long cycle, high cost, and poor parameter synergy. This study constructed a Bayesian optimization driven collaborative control framework for piezoelectric ceramic composition sintering process. A Gaussian process surrogate model was used to establish a nonlinear mapping relationship between composition, sintering parameters, and piezoelectric properties. An improved expectation boosting acquisition function was introduced to achieve efficient parameter space search under multi-objective constraints. The model integrates component feature encoding mechanism, process parameter boundary constraints, and performance priority weighting strategy to achieve joint optimization of piezoelectric coefficient, dielectric constant, and mechanical quality factor. The research results show that the framework obtained a potassium sodium niobate based piezoelectric ceramic formula with a piezoelectric coefficient of 692 pC/N under the condition of only 28 sets of experiments, which improved the development efficiency by 72% compared to traditional experimental methods; In the robustness test of sintering temperature fluctuation ±20 °C, the performance degradation rate of the optimized formula was controlled below 8.3%, significantly better than the empirical design scheme. This study provides an efficient and scalable technical path for the development of piezoelectric materials with multi parameter coupling, which is suitable for directional design scenarios of multi-component advanced materials such as functional ceramics and semiconductor materials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1906993</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1906993</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mortar composites incorporating VO2/MWCNT solid–solid nanophase change material for passive indoor temperature regulation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>J. R. Villegas-Méndez</author><author>C. Y. Fragoso-Fernández</author><author>J. R. González-López</author><author>M. A. Guerra-Cossío</author><author>M. Z. Figueroa-Torres</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as promising materials for improving the thermal performance of building envelopes. In this study, a solid–solid nanophase change material (nanoPCM) composed of vanadium dioxide (VO2) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was synthesized and incorporated into cement mortar at contents ranging from 0.5 to 3 wt%. The effects of nanoPCM incorporation on hydration behavior, microstructure, compressive strength, thermophysical properties (specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, diffusivity and effusivity), thermal regulation capacity and energy saving were investigated. The results revealed a synergistic interaction between VO2 and MWCNTs, reducing the phase transition temperature (Tc) from 72.41 °C to 63.73 °C while increasing thermal conductivity by approximately 3.5 times. The incorporation of nanoPCM slightly increased mortar density and improved long-term compressive strength, with a maximum increase of 24.5% observed at 1 wt% nanoPCM addition. Hydration calorimetry revealed that nanoPCM delayed early-age hydration kinetics without suppressing the overall hydration process. In the mortar composites, nanoPCM incorporation reduced thermal conductivity, diffusivity and effusivity with a slight decrease in the specific heat capacity, resulting in enhanced thermal inertia and delayed heat transfer. Thermal regulation tests confirmed a reduction in temperature fluctuations, while building energy simulations demonstrated annual energy savings of up to 2.23%, depending on climatic conditions. These findings demonstrate that tailoring the thermophysical properties of cementitious materials through VO2/MWCNT solid–solid nanoPCM represents an effective strategy for improving passive indoor temperature regulation and reducing building energy demand without compromising mechanical performance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1912625</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1912625</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Evaluation of mechanical properties and durability of nanolime synthesized by an anion-exchange method for the consolidation of Dazu Rock Carvings]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zeyi Hao</author><author>Shuo Wang</author><author>Wengang Zhang</author><author>Andrea Galli</author><author>Bin Ma</author><author>Yanmei Zhang</author><author>Yalin Cai</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionWeathered sandstone at the Dazu Rock Carvings is susceptible to progressive loss of intergranular cohesion under repeated moisture fluctuations and salt crystallization. This study evaluated a compatible nanolime treatment designed to enhance the mechanical resistance of weathered sandstone while preserving its visual appearance and pore connectivity.MethodsHigh-purity calcium hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized via a one-step anion-exchange route. The synthesized nanolime and treated sandstone were characterized and evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (TEM/EDS), colorimetry, porosity and permeability measurements, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) testing, nanoindentation mapping, accelerated wetting-drying and hygrothermal-salt aging tests, and in situ Leeb hardness monitoring.ResultsThe synthesized nanolime consisted predominantly of hexagonal portlandite platelets approximately 50–100 nm in size, with no detectable chloride-containing crystalline by-products under the applied characterization conditions. Nanolime treatment increased the mean UCS from 37.35 to 47.00 MPa while causing negligible changes in color, porosity, and permeability. Following accelerated aging, nanolime-treated specimens retained higher hardness and elastic modulus than both untreated specimens and those treated with traditional lime water. Field monitoring further showed rapid recovery of surface hardness within 24 h after treatment, followed by continued strengthening over 100 days in selected weathered zones.DiscussionThese results demonstrate that anion-exchange-derived nanolime provides mineral-compatible reinforcement while maintaining the visual and hydro-physical characteristics of weathered sandstone. Longer-term field monitoring and direct assessment of carbonation depth are still required to establish its long-term durability and service-life performance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1902469</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1902469</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrity failure behavior and mechanism of cement sheath under cyclic differential pressure: application to underground energy storage wells]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Libin Jiao</author><author>Wenzhe Li</author><author>Youzhi Zheng</author><author>Ji Zhou</author><author>Junhong Pu</author><author>Fuyun Wang</author><author>Jun Zhao</author><author>Zhanwu Zhang</author><author>Xinyu Wu</author><author>Lang He</author><author>Kaiqiang Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study established an integrated cement sheath integrity experimental device and proposed a strain equivalence method to quantitatively reproduce the cement sheath deformation under downhole conditions in the laboratory to evaluate the effect of cyclic differential pressure (CDP) in underground energy storage wells (UESWs) on cement sheath integrity (CSI). The results indicate that when the cement sheath used for UESWs was cured for 7 and 28 d at 90 °C and 21 MPa, its elasticity moduli were 7.31 GPa and 7.38 GPa and its maximum deviatoric stresses were 35.2 MPa and 39.2 MPa, respectively. Combining the above mechanical parameters, the casing–cement sheath–formation mechanical models were used to calculate the stress and strain of the cement sheath. It can be found that at a differential pressure of 18 MPa, the cement sheath under downhole conditions was undergoing elastic deformation, and its first interface strain reached 0.0378%. In addition, when the cement sheath under experimental conditions reached the same strain, the equivalent differential pressure was 12.2 MPa. Furthermore, the CSI was measured. When the cement sheath was cured for 7, 14, and 21 days, an equivalent CDP of 12.2 MPa was applied to the cement sheath for a total of 90 cycles, and the cement sheath maintained good integrity. On the other hand, when the cement sheath was continuously cured for 28 d, the equivalent CDP was applied only 5 times (for a total of 95 cycles), gas channeling was recorded, and its integrity failed. Comparing the calculated and experimental results, under CDP, the cement sheath did not undergo real elastic deformation; instead, CDP caused strain accumulation and interfacial bonding degradation in the cement sheath with a skeleton pore structure, rather than elastic deformation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1919251</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1919251</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Machine learning for predicting the glass transition and melting temperatures of polymers: molecular representations, model architectures, and interpretability]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Haiqian Guo</author><author>Yitian Zhang</author><author>Wei Zan</author><author>Jiejie Liu</author><author>Shuai Guo</author><author>Ayinishahan Dawuti</author><author>Xinwu Ba</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Glass transition (Tg) and melting (Tm) temperatures set the processing window, service range, and end-use performance of polymers, making their rapid prediction central to accelerated materials design. Experiments and simulations are accurate but costly, while classical structure–property models depend on hand-crafted descriptors; machine learning instead maps chemical structure to thermal transitions end to end. This review organizes machine-learning prediction of Tg and Tm around three pillars—molecular representation, model architecture, and interpretability—and foregrounds the features that separate polymer informatics from generic molecular machine learning: repeat-unit periodicity, chain-length-invariant encoding, copolymer sequence, and stereoregularity. We compare descriptors, fingerprints, graph neural networks, and coarse-grained schemes; traditional, deep, transfer, and multi-task models under data scarcity; and methods for quantifying predictive uncertainty and delimiting applicability domains. We treat Tg and Tm as physically distinct targets, since Tm additionally reflects crystal packing, hydrogen bonding, and chain symmetry. A recurring theme is label quality: calorimetric, dynamic-mechanical, and thermomechanical measurements define these transitions differently, so pooled datasets embed instrumental as well as chemical variance. We critically assess explainable artificial intelligence methods and the way accuracy is reported, arguing that headline metrics are not comparable across studies, and we examine how the first community-scale prediction challenge, chemistry-aware data splitting, and calibrated uncertainty can place reporting on a common footing. Finally, we connect representations, architectures, and interpretability to high-performance and sustainable polymer design, synthesizability-aware screening, and closed-loop discovery, and outline open challenges in data scarcity, domain transfer, and chemical-space extrapolation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1921706</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1921706</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Steel rolling in the age of artificial intelligence: a review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Nanfu Zong</author><author>Tao Jing</author><author>Jean-Christophe Gebelin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Driven by recent advances in machine learning, steel rolling is transitioning toward intelligent, data-centric operation. This study presents a unified machine learning framework for predictive, closed-loop quality control of steel strips across hot and cold rolling processes. The model explicitly quantifies the complex, nonlinear effects of key operational parameters, such as rolling force and gap settings, on final product quality. The proposed framework enables real-time monitoring and dynamic compensation of dimensional deviations and shape defects, thereby improving dimensional consistency and process stability. Additionally, a multimodal perception-based system is introduced for early anomaly detection and coordinated parameter optimization, facilitating adaptive setpoint adjustment and proactive defect mitigation. Collectively, these machine learning-driven approaches enhance product uniformity and rolling efficiency while offering a scalable pathway toward more autonomous, resource-efficient, and sustainable rolling operations, aligning with the paradigm of AI-driven sustainable manufacturing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1888752</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1888752</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Multi-response optimization of mechanical, chemical durability, and microstructural performance of sustainable hybrid fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete incorporating pyrolyzed coffee grounds using RSM]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Amani Abdallah Hepautwa</author><author>Askwar Hilonga</author><author>Fina Lesafi</author><author>Register Mrosso</author><author>Tusekile Alfredy</author><author>Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The use of agricultural waste materials and hybrid fiber reinforcement in concrete offers a sustainable approach for producing high-performance construction materials with improved mechanical properties and durability. This study investigated the mechanical, chemical durability, thermal, and microstructural performance of high-strength concrete incorporating 15% pyrolyzed coffee grounds (PCG) produced at 350 °C as a partial fine-aggregate replacement. Hooked-end steel fibers and alkali-treated banana fibers were used as hybrid reinforcements, while Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize the effects of fiber dosage and steel–banana hybridization ratio. Mechanical performance was evaluated through compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength tests, while durability was assessed under 10% NaCl, 5% HCl, and 5% HNO3 exposure. Microstructural characterization was conducted using SEM/EDX, XRD, and TGA/DTG analyses. The results showed that the combined incorporation of PCG and hybrid fibers enhanced concrete performance through improved crack-bridging, matrix densification, and pore refinement. The optimum mixture, containing 1.25%–1.50% total fiber dosage and a steel-to-banana fiber ratio of 80:20, achieved a compressive strength of 69.6 MPa, splitting tensile strength of 9.0 MPa, and flexural strength of 14.0 MPa. The same mixture exhibited superior chemical durability, with minimum mass losses of 2.45%, 3.90%, and 4.40% under NaCl, HCl, and HNO3 exposure, respectively. Microstructural analyses confirmed a denser matrix, stronger fiber–matrix bonding, reduced pore connectivity, and enhanced hydration-product formation, while TGA/DTG results indicated improved thermal stability. Validation experiments closely matched model predictions, confirming the reliability of the CCD-RSM models. Overall, the synergistic use of pyrolyzed coffee grounds and hybrid steel–banana fibers produced a durable, high-strength, and environmentally sustainable concrete suitable for structural applications in aggressive environments while promoting the valorization of coffee-processing waste within a circular economy framework.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1892193</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1892193</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Degradation mechanisms of salt-storage asphalt pavements: molecular dynamics insights into salt-water coupling effects on asphalt and aggregate interface]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Liu Zijian</author><author>Zhao Qiang</author><author>Yu Jingyang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Salt-induced asphalt interface failure severely limits the service life of salt-storage snow-melting asphalt pavements. Employing eco-friendly sodium formate as organic salts representative, this study employs interfacial strength tests and molecular modeling to reveal salt interactions with asphalt and asphalt-aggregate interfaces. On this basis, the degradation pathways of interfacial interaction under salt-water coupling are further revealed by introducing water molecular to construct the ternary system coupled (asphalt/water/aggregate) interface molecular models. Key findings reveal that sodium formate storage filler incorporation significantly reduces asphalt components diffusivity by 34.5%–41.9% within the asphalt model. This inhibition impedes molecular conformational adjustment and accelerates asphalt damage accumulation. Concurrently, sodium formate molecule degrades the asphalt/aggregate interfacial properties through the dual mechanism: Salt enhances asphalt molecular surface mobility, while simultaneously promoting interfacial salt aggregation. The dual synergistic effect would reduce the molecular folding level and interfacial electrostatic energy, which leads to the adhesion properties showing high salt sensitivity. Comparatively, it was found that silicon dioxide minerals showed superior interfacial stability than calcium carbonate minerals in salt-eroding environments. Under saline-water coupling conditions, progressive salt precipitation from salt-storage asphalt induces a sustained increase in salinity concentration of water layer. This phenomenon can cause the reduction in the water mobility by about 30% and an increase in the interlayer retention effect, and thereby forming a barrier that further weakens interface interaction energy. These results provide theoretical foundation for optimizing salt-storage asphalt pavement design and enhancing the sustainability of asphalt pavements.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1915811</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1915811</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Nanocatalytic conversion of Calotropis procera seed oil and latex into sustainable biodiesel using nickel oxide nanoparticles]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Shilpa Kumari</author><author>Surinder Kumar</author><author>Asha Kumari</author><author>Neha Kondal</author><author> Prashant</author><author>Tejinder Singh</author><author>Rahul Sharma</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The present study explores the sustainable production of biodiesel from Calotropis procera seed oil using nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles as an efficient green nanocatalyst. The NiO nanoparticles were synthesized via an ecofriendly route employing Calotropis procera latex and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, confirming their nanoscale size range of 1.2–5 nm. Critical reaction parameters influencing biodiesel yield were systematically optimized. A maximum yield of 97.6% was achieved under optimal conditions: catalyst loading of 1.5 wt%, oil-to-methanol molar ratio of 1:9, reaction temperature of 65 °C, and a reaction time of 90 min. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the successful transesterification of seed oil into biodiesel through characteristic functional group transformations. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed the presence of major fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), including methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, methyl arachidate, and methyl linoleate, contributing to the fuel quality. The catalyst reusability study demonstrated appreciable stability, retaining 74% efficiency after five cycles and 50% after seven cycles. The synthesized biodiesel exhibited physicochemical properties in compliance with ASTM standards, highlighting its potential as a viable, eco-friendly alternative fuel.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1910551</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1910551</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Metal additive manufacturing for unmanned aerial vehicle propulsion: a narrative review of recent advances in gas turbine systems]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Alberto Boretti</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is revolutionizing the design and production of high-performance components across the aerospace sector. This narrative review examines recent research on gas turbine propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a particular focus on the transformative role of metal additive manufacturing (MAM) in enabling lighter, more efficient, and more complex engine architectures. The study analyzes the operating principles, performance characteristics, and applications of turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop engines while highlighting key technological advances in hybridization, cycle optimization, and advanced manufacturing. Particular attention is given to MAM of high-temperature alloys (e.g., Inconel, titanium aluminides) and the integration of topology-optimized lattice structures, internal cooling channels, and monolithic rotors. Recent studies on additive manufacturing (AM) for drone components—including metal-doped plastics, composite filaments, and high-performance polymers—provide complementary insights into material selection, structural integrity, and functional integration that are directly relevant to gas turbine development. The study also incorporates the emerging roles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in evaluating environmental sustainability and the use of machine learning for advanced fault diagnostics. Drawing on thermodynamic analyses, experimental studies, and modelling efforts, this review identifies current challenges and future directions in MAM for UAV propulsion, and briefly discusses potential cross-fertilization with biomedical AM, where similar challenges in process control, microstructure optimization, and post-processing are being addressed.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1858607</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1858607</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A computational strategy for improving efficiency in finite element analyses with non-linear zero-thickness interface elements]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Giovanna Xotta</author><author>Ignacio Carol</author><author>Daniel Garolera</author><author>Caterina Biscaro</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionZero-thickness interface elements are widely used in Finite Element modelling of fracture, debonding, and displacement discontinuities in rock masses and heterogeneous materials. Their effectiveness in capturing localized non-linear behaviour has led to extensive use in simulations of quasi-brittle materials, multi-material interfaces and meso-scale descriptions of heterogeneous media. However, their introduction requires the duplication of nodes along potential discontinuity surfaces, resulting in a significant increase in the number of degrees of freedom and computational cost, which severely limits the size of problems that can be addressed, especially in large-scale three-dimensional simulations.MethodsThis work proposes a novel solution strategy to improve the computational efficiency of Finite Element analyses combining linear continuous elements and non-linear zero-thickness interface elements. The method exploits the natural separation between the elastic response of the continuum and the non-linear behavior localized at the interfaces. A substructuring formulation based on the Schur complement is used to condense, at the beginning of each load increment, the degrees of freedom associated with the linear continuum, leading to a reduced system defined only on the interface degrees of freedom, where the non-linear iterations are performed. The continuum domain is further partitioned into independent blocks separated by interface elements, enabling block-wise condensation. The proposed approach preserves full consistency with the original Finite Element formulation while significantly reducing the size of the system solved during non-linear iterations.ResultsImplemented in a Finite Element research code, the method is assessed through two-dimensional benchmark problems with increasing mesh size and number of interface elements. The results show substantial reductions in computational time, particularly for large-scale analyses characterized by extensive interface networks.DiscussionAlthough particularly advantageous in such cases, the method remains general and applicable to any Finite Element model in which non-linear behavior is confined to interface elements within an otherwise predominantly linear domain.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1934628</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1934628</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Research on a prediction model for asphalt pavement deflection in full-scale test track integrating multi-source features and machine learning]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Meiyi Zhang</author><author>Guiyu Gan</author><author>Taixin Fu</author><author>Xiangbing Gong</author><author>Jun Cai</author><author>Jiahui Lu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To ensure asphalt pavement durability under environmental and traffic loads, this study investigates permanent deformation caused by temperature changes and repeated axle loads. Based on long-term full-scale track monitoring, a feature fusion model integrating cumulative load passes and temperature was developed. We evaluated XGBoost, ANN, Stacking, and LSTM models for deformation prediction. Results show the Stacking model achieved the highest accuracy, with a test R2 of 0.902 and an RMSE 18.95% lower than linear regression. XGBoost demonstrated better stability, while LSTM and ANN exhibited limitations with sequential patterns. SHAP analysis identified pavement structure, axle load, and ambient temperature as the dominant factors. This study investigates pavement deflection as an indicator of structural performance under temperature changes and repeated axle loads, with implications for permanent deformation assessment.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1900080</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1900080</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Material design and structural optimization of a High-RAP large-size recycled asphalt-stabilized macadam mixture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yanqun Liu</author><author>Wenrui Li</author><author>Wansheng Yang</author><author>Sudi Wang</author><author>Jie Wang</author><author>Wenbo Gan</author><author>Xiaoyu Hu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Semi-rigid asphalt pavement bases are subject to dry shrinkage and thermal shrinkage cracking during the service life and may develop upward and reflect as well. At the same time, a large amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is produced during road maintenance, and its resource-efficient use is now urgently needed. Therefore, this study constructed a high-RAP recycled asphalt-stabilised large-size macadam mixture, denoted as RLGATB-40, by adding a large amount of RAP to the large-size aggregate reinforced system. First, a one-step filling method was used to find the ideal blending ratios of RAP fractions at all particle sizes. Then, compressive strength and splitting strength tests were carried out to optimise the content of large-size aggregates, rejuvenator dosage, and virgin asphalt-aggregate ratio. Subsequently, microstructural analysis, dynamic modulus determination and pavement structure modelling in HPDS2017 were carried out to examine the performance of the proposed material from all sides. Based on the above analysis, although the new mixture has a higher dynamic modulus than the old one, the pavement performance will be almost the same. In addition, the degree of compaction, deflection and smoothness of the built test section all met the requirements specified in the contract, and RLGATB-40 is suitable for use as a flexible base material.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1854362</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1854362</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A critical review of 4D printed metamaterials: printing technology, materials, structures, applications and challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Zhenjia Wang</author><author>Renbo Li</author><author>Mingyang Hu</author><author>Hongrui Cao</author><author>Yongtao Lyu</author><author>Bo Chen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In recent years, 4D printing technology, as an extension of 3D printing, has revolutionized the field of smart materials by introducing time as the fourth dimension, endowing materials with the ability to dynamically respond to external stimuli. At the same time, metamaterials have emerged as a frontier in materials science due to their artificially designed microstructures, which exhibit unique mechanical, acoustic, or electromagnetic properties not found in natural materials. The integration of these two technologies, i.e., 4D printed metamaterials, not only breaks the boundaries of traditional manufacturing but also offers innovative solutions for aerospace, biomedical engineering, soft robotics, and other fields. This review systematically summarizes the research progress and development trends of 4D printed metamaterials from four aspects: technical foundations, material properties, typical applications, and future challenges, with a focus on clarifying the logical connection between 4D printing technology, smart materials, and metamaterial performance, as well as their practical application value.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1863076</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1863076</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Study on the cooperative supporting effect of a pile-anchor support system in a deep and large foundation pit]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xuemei Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Deep excavations in soft soil often face a conflict between strict deformation control and the need for internal construction space. To explore whether a pile-anchor support system can provide a balanced solution, this study investigates a deep and large foundation pit in Yancheng, China, where SMW retaining piles, a reinforced-concrete bracing level, and two rows of large-diameter jet-grouted anchors were adopted. Three PLAXIS 3D models were established for the pile-anchor-bracing, pile-bracing, and pile-anchor systems under the same excavation conditions, and the numerical results were validated against field monitoring data. The results indicate that all three systems exhibit a bulging deformation mode of the retaining piles, but the deformation pattern of the pile-anchor support system is much closer to that of the pile-bracing system because the bracing member provides a stiffer near-pit restraint and alters the bending-moment distribution of the pile more effectively than the anchors. Compared with the pile-anchor system, the combined system significantly reduces horizontal displacement while preserving more construction space than the pure bracing scheme. The results indicate that the pile-anchor-bracing system provides improved deformation control compared with the single-support systems under the same excavation conditions. The study further clarifies the cooperative mechanism between anchors and bracing members and proposes a normalized comparative indicator for evaluating the synergy effect of combined support systems. The applicability of this indicator is project-dependent and should be further verified in future studies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1942762</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1942762</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Field-scale performance improvement of ammonia-soda white mud as a waste-derived geomaterial through dewatering and preloading]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jing Tan</author><author>Xiyu Yang</author><author>Tao Xie</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Ammonia-soda white mud (ASWM) is a high-water-content industrial residue generated during soda-ash production. Its large-volume reuse as a backfill geomaterial could reduce long-term stockpiling and the consumption of conventional fill materials; however, its high compressibility, low permeability, and low initial strength restrict direct engineering application. Unlike previous ASWM reuse approaches based mainly on blending, cementitious incorporation, or chemical stabilization, the present study investigated the in situ physical improvement and direct large-volume reuse of an already placed, high-water-content ASWM deposit. This study compared three field-scale dewatering-consolidation pathways for an artificially backfilled ASWM deposit in a coastal port area of Bohai Bay, China: vacuum preloading, surcharge preloading, and surcharge preloading combined with well-point dewatering. Three approximately 2,500 m2 test zones were monitored using surface settlement, layered compression, pore-water pressure, and groundwater-level measurements. Changes in moisture content, wet density, dry density, void ratio, cone tip resistance, and sleeve friction were also evaluated. All three pathways induced consolidation and improved the physical-state and penetration-resistance characteristics of ASWM. Vacuum-induced settlement developed mainly during the first 15–20 days and stabilized at approximately 600 mm, whereas final settlements under surcharge preloading and combined treatment reached approximately 1,260 and 1,670 mm, respectively. The combined treatment produced a maximum layer compression ratio of 13.32%. In the 0–6 m interval, it reduced moisture content from 219.2% to 199.1% and void ratio from 5.264 to 4.700, while increasing dry density from 0.38 to 0.412 g cm-3. Cone tip resistance and sleeve friction increased from 217.8 to 419.9 kPa and from 7.81 to 12.78 kPa, respectively. Under the tested field conditions, surcharge preloading combined with well-point dewatering produced the greatest overall improvement in consolidation response, physical state, and CPT-based penetration resistance among the three evaluated pathways. This site-specific finding supports the field-scale conversion of high-water-content ASWM into a more serviceable waste-derived geomaterial. Environmental safety, long-term durability, energy demand, cost, and life-cycle benefits should be evaluated before broader implementation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1883946</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1883946</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dominant-learner adaptive mixing for concrete compressive strength prediction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jinjin Wang</author><author>Zhihao Zhao</author><author>Mingjie Han</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Accurate prediction of concrete compressive strength is essential for mixture design, quality control, and the broader use of supplementary cementitious materials in low-carbon construction. Fly ash concrete is particularly challenging to model because its strength development is affected by nonlinear interactions among binder composition, water–binder relationships, admixture dosage, and material characteristics. To address this problem, this study proposes a Dominant Learner with Adaptive Mixing (DLAM) framework for data-driven strength prediction. DLAM uses inner cross-validation to identify the most reliable learner from a pool of machine learning models and introduces a validation-controlled Ridge calibration step to exploit complementary information among candidate predictions. The calibration branch is adopted only when it improves the inner-validation root mean squared error (RMSE), thereby reducing the risk of unnecessary model combination and performance degradation. The framework is evaluated using a leakage-free repeated outer/inner validation protocol on a fly ash concrete dataset and is further examined on an independent public concrete strength dataset. DLAM is compared with individual learners, adaptive model-averaging baselines, and Stacking. The results show that DLAM achieves the lowest mean RMSE among the focused comparators on both datasets, with a clear improvement on the external dataset and a more modest gain on the fly ash dataset. These findings demonstrate that validation-controlled calibration provides a transparent and robust way to enhance machine-learning-based concrete strength prediction, especially when different learners capture complementary aspects of the mixture–strength relationship.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1923864</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1923864</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Eco-friendly synthesis of Ni-doped PbS nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic removal of atrazine under visible light]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rehana Farooq</author><author>Suraya Farooq</author><author>Akansha Mehta</author><author>Jasminder Singh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The eco-friendly green synthesis of lead sulfide (PbS) and Ni-doped lead sulfide (Ni-PbS) nanoparticles was performed using neem leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized samples was evaluated toward atrazine (ATZ) degradation under visible light irradiation. The concentration of Ni (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) was doped in PbS to obtain the optimum degradation of the photocatalyst. The degradation efficiency of the PbS synthesized using the green method was high compared to PbS synthesized using the conventional method (PbS C). The best degradation efficiency of Ni-PbS 0.4 was 96.5% as registered within 180 min. The degradation was highly sensitive to the pH of the solutions. The loading of the catalyst and the maximum degradation were achieved at pH 10 and a catalyst loading of 0.010 g/L. The PbS and Ni-PbS 0.4 rate constants were 0.006979 min−1 and 0.055962 min−1, respectively. The experiments on reusability established that the catalyst remained stable in several cycles. The results reveal that green-synthesized Ni-PbS could serve as a potential, stable, and sustainable photocatalyst for the effective degradation of ATZ in aqueous media.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1883646</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1883646</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biointegrative bone screws: materials, architected structures and intelligent design strategies for next-generation orthopedic fixation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Bin Yu</author><author>Dongdong Du</author><author>Xinjun Xie</author><author>Chi Zhang</author><author>Hui Chen</author><author>Dongdong Xia</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Bone screws are essential load-bearing fixation devices in spinal, dental, trauma and reconstructive orthopedic surgery, yet their long-term reliability remains limited by loosening, stress shielding, fatigue damage, infection risk and incomplete osseointegration. This review synthesizes materials- and structure-based strategies for transforming conventional screws from inert mechanical fasteners into biointegrative and functionally programmable implants. We first compare permanent metallic systems, including titanium, stainless steel and cobalt–chromium alloys, with biodegradable magnesium-, iron- and zinc-based systems, highlighting the competing requirements of strength, elastic modulus, degradation or corrosion behavior, and biological safety. We then examine how external geometry, thread configuration, surface curvature, roughness, micro/nanotopography and functional coatings regulate insertion stability, protein adsorption, macrophage response, osteogenic differentiation and bone–implant contact. Particular emphasis is placed on architected porous and mechanical-metamaterial designs, including triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures, auxetic lattices, stochastic trabecular-like networks and graded porosity, because these architectures can simultaneously tune apparent stiffness, provide space for vascularized bone ingrowth and modify pull-out, torsional and fatigue behavior. Finally, topology optimization, finite element analysis and data-driven artificial intelligence are discussed as enabling tools for patient-specific and function-driven screw design. The available evidence indicates that no single material, surface treatment or lattice architecture can satisfy all clinical demands. Future bone screws are likely to coordinated optimization of material chemistry, macrogeometry, surface biology, internal architecture, additive-manufacturing quality control and validation strategy. This review provides a Frontiers in Materials-oriented framework for the rational design and translational assessment of next-generation biointegrative bone screws.]]></description>
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