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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>2026-06-02T17:42:51.754+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1827598</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1827598</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Progress and biomedical applications of antimicrobial peptide-functionalized titanium surfaces]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Ke Wan</author><author>Yucheng Su</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Titanium and titanium alloy implants are widely used, but implantation-related infections and biofilms remain important causes of failure and revision. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely present in a variety of organisms and are an important component of the non-specific immune function of organisms, with functions such as antibacterial, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. This review introduces the main types and structural characteristics of antimicrobial peptides, and analyzes the loading methods, mechanisms of action, and current applications of antimicrobial peptides on titanium surfaces. Finally, this article discusses the main challenges in translating antimicrobial peptide-functionalized titanium into clinical applications, and the development directions for overcoming these challenges.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1771605</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1771605</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The regularity of asymmetric evolution of stress and displacement fields in surrounding rock during horizontal stratified mining of steeply inclined, extra-thick coal seams]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jun Liu</author><author>Yongchao Dang</author><author>Chunyu Ji</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In order to address the problems of gas abnormal emission and roadway instability induced by asymmetric stress evolution of surrounding rock during horizontal layered mining of steeply inclined and extra-thick coal seams, this study takes the +575 m level 45# coal seam in the northern mining area of the Wudong Coal Mine, Urumqi, as the engineering background. A three-dimensional geomechanical model of a steeply inclined coal seam was established using the FLAC3D numerical simulation method to investigate the dynamic response characteristics of vertical stress and displacement fields in the goaf during the layered mining process. Results show that the mining-induced stress field of the surrounding rock exhibits a distinctly asymmetric “ear-shaped” distribution, with a deeper stress relief zone on the floor side than on the roof side. This asymmetry originates from the 45° dip angle, where the normal component of gravity suppresses roof delamination, while the tangential component induces floor coal expansion and deformation. The displacement field evolution demonstrates three distinct stages: “V-type → U-type → basin-type,” with the displacement gradient abruptly increasing to 2.0 mm/m when the initial roof weighting occurs at a step distance of 50 m. Parametric analysis of layer thickness and burial depth effects reveals that when the mining thickness increases to 25 m, the floor stress concentration factor rises by 60% compared with 5 m layering. Additionally, for every 100 m increase in burial depth, the roof stress concentration intensity increases by 25%, and the floor heave amplitude increases by 57.9%. Based on the spatial differentiation of the stress relief gradient, this study identifies the ear-shaped stress relief zone within 15 m of the deep floor as an efficient target area for gas drainage, providing theoretical support and engineering optimization guidelines for the safe mining of steeply inclined coal seams.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1835471</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1835471</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Modeling to simulate static and dynamic tire-pavement contact: an emphasis on three-dimensional pavement surface texture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-06-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qian Zhang</author><author>Yixin Hao</author><author>Jing Li</author><author>Peng Xu</author><author>Jianteng Huang</author><author>Jingxiao Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Tire-pavement contact behavior is closely associated with pavement skid resistance and vehicle safety. However, most existing studies on tire-road contact have overlooked the coupled interaction between tire rubber materials and asphalt pavement texture, particularly the influence of real pavement surface texture characteristics. Therefore, this study employed finite element analysis to investigate the grounding and skid resistance performance of tires under different static and dynamic conditions. A finite element tire-pavement contact model incorporating real pavement surface textures was first established. The contact stress and contact depth of the model were then validated using pressure-sensitive films and carbon papers. Based on the validated model, the tire-pavement contact characteristics and skid resistance performance under different static and dynamic conditions were analyzed. The results show that uneven pavement surface textures lead to non-uniform distributions of contact stress and contact imprints, with more pronounced stress concentration and asymmetric stress distribution observed on surfaces with larger irregularities. In addition, as velocity increases, both the contact area and the average normal contact stress between the tire and pavement gradually decrease. Under ABS braking conditions, pavement surfaces with larger irregularities show more noticeable improvements in skid resistance. This study clarifies tire-pavement contact characteristics under various operating conditions and provides theoretical support for asphalt mixture selection, pavement surface design, and the improvement of vehicle safety.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1834058</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1834058</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect and mechanism of warm mix agent on the rheological properties of styrene–butadiene–styrene-modified asphalt]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qingcheng Zeng</author><author>Wei Qiu</author><author>Linjian Su</author><author>Jiaqi Gao</author><author>Yanxia Cai</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect and reaction mechanism of warm mix agent PN2217 on the rheological properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) asphalt.MethodsFourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM) were conducted to reveal the reaction mechanism between PN2217 and SBS asphalt. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests were performed to analyze the rheological properties of SBS asphalt modified with 1, 3, and 5 wt% PN2217.ResultsThe addition of PN2217 changed the component proportions, reducing phase separation and promoting the formation of a more homogeneous microstructure via crosslinked long-chain molecules. PN2217 improved the temperature sensitivity and permanent deformation resistance of SBS asphalt at high temperatures, mainly by increasing the elastic components. However, the addition of PN2217 reduced the cracking resistance potential of SBS asphalt by 7%–19% and increased stress sensitivity by 4.8%–8.3% at low temperatures.DiscussionThis deterioration at low temperature may be attributed to the loss of light-weight components.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1806213</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1806213</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Factors for selection of lignocellulosic fibers for use in structural composites]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Carlo Santulli</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The success of a composite in its prospective application is measured by achieving an optimal matching between the matrix and the reinforcement, leading to a strong interface and a uniform impregnation of the highest possible content of fibers using the most suitable composite manufacturing process. When both fibers and matrix are synthetic, their properties can be controlled in most operational environments and possibly improved through judicious modification of their production processes. In contrast, when fibers are extracted from plants or derived as residues from an agrifood economic system, the fiber selection or optimization can be quite vague and ineffective. In the best case, it is possible to obtain “good enough” fibers, which may not be adapted to serve in engineering structures as self-supporting components. As a consequence, a thorough control of factors influencing the performance of plant fiber composite (PFC) characteristics is needed for PFCs to compete with their synthetic counterparts. This requirement has become increasingly crucial for the growing availability of biomass to be possibly used as a secondary raw material in structurally sound materials. A general framework for the many factors involved in reaching this goal is presented and described. The increasingly prevalent use of agricultural waste is also considered.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1873213</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1873213</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Advancements in sustainable nanotechnology, environment, and energy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Jagpreet Singh</author><author>Daniela Šojić Merkulov</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1810532</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1810532</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Coupled internal force-deformation response of anti-slide piles based on optical fiber and inclinometer data fusion]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Liu Feng</author><author>Han Jian</author><author>Sun Mengyang</author><author>Nie Biao</author><author>Wu Yuhang</author><author>Yang Zhao</author><author>Niu Wenqing</author><author>Feng Wenlin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To investigate the actual working mechanism of anti-slide piles, an integrated monitoring system combining distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and flexible inclinometers was deployed in a highway landslide control project. FBG cables and inclinometer tubes were implanted in one single-row cantilever pile (No.20) and two double-row portal-frame piles (No.48 front-row and No.71 rear-row) with anchor cables, allowing for simultaneous measurement and comparative study of the internal force (bending moment) and deformation (displacement) fields. The results reveal that single-row piles exhibit a tightly coupled internal force-deformation relationship, with coincident bending moment and displacement inflection points. In contrast, double-row piles display a systematic decoupling: peak bending moments shift to greater depth while maximum displacements remain shallow, caused by load redistribution through the capping beam. Safety evaluation shows that the measured maximum bending moments utilize only 7.06%–10.75% of the design capacity, confirming linear elastic behaviour and substantial safety reserves. The study demonstrates the value of multi-source data fusion for structural diagnosis and performance optimization in slope engineering.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1853214</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1853214</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Experimental study on the degradation behavior of FRP-confined RC columns under coupled Wind–Sand erosion and freeze–thaw cycles]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wenhao Ren</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Reinforced concrete (RC) structures in cold and arid regions are simultaneously subjected to wind–sand erosion and freeze–thaw cycles, resulting in complex deterioration of their mechanical performance. To investigate this coupled effect, a series of laboratory tests were conducted on FRP-confined RC columns under controlled environmental conditions, including wind–sand erosion at a velocity of 26 m/s and freeze–thaw cycles ranging from −20 °C to +20 °C up to 200 cycles. The experimental results indicate that plain concrete specimens exhibit significant degradation, with reductions of 32.4% in compressive strength and 36.7% in flexural strength after 200 cycles. In contrast, specimens confined with CFRP, GFRP, and BFRP retain 87.2%, 84.6%, and 82.1% of their initial mechanical properties, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of FRP confinement in mitigating environmental damage. Based on the observed behavior, the damage evolution mechanisms under coupled wind–sand erosion and freeze–thaw actions are systematically analyzed. Wind–sand erosion increases surface permeability and facilitates moisture ingress, while freeze–thaw cycles induce internal microcracking and reduce material cohesion. The interaction between these processes forms a positive feedback mechanism that accelerates structural deterioration. Although FRP confinement restrains lateral expansion, it cannot prevent the accumulation of internal damage, leading to interfacial debonding, local bulging, and eventual rupture. Furthermore, a unified multi-parameter empirical model is proposed to quantitatively predict the degradation behavior of FRP-confined RC columns by incorporating the effects of freeze–thaw cycles, erosion intensity, and confinement characteristics. The proposed model shows good agreement with the experimental results, with the coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.9126 to 0.9413 for all specimens, indicating high predictive accuracy and robustness. Finally, this paper presents engineering design recommendations for FRP-reinforced concrete columns under various environmental conditions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1852491</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1852491</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: 10 years of Frontiers in materials: past discoveries, current challenges and future perspectives]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Nicola Maria Pugno</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1827271</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1827271</link>
        <title><![CDATA[First-principles investigation of NaX(Mn,Ti)O2 cathode material for rechargeable sodium-ion batteries]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tshifhiwa Steven Ranwaha</author><author>Ratshilumela Steve Dima</author><author>Nnditshedzeni Eric Maluta</author><author>Rapela Regina Maphanga</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Owing to the abundant supply of sodium and comparable performance to lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable sodium-ion batteries have attracted significant attention for large-scale electric energy-storage applications and smart grids. This study investigated the structural and electrical properties of Ti-doped NaMnO2 using the density functional theory. The exchange-correlation functional in the generalized gradient approximation, as given by the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof functional, was used to calculate the total energies. The spin-polarized calculations were performed in sodiated and de-sodiated systems to determine the structural and electronic properties of the 2 × 2× 2 NaMnO2 and NaX(Mn,Ti)O2 supercells. The dopants induced the volume expansion. The lowest conduction band and highest valence band originate primarily from the 3d orbital of the Mn atom and transition metal dopants, which are responsible for electronic conductivity. NaX(Mn, Ti)O2 exhibits a reduced band gap compared to NaMnO2 due to the effect of the Ti dopant. Furthermore, all independent elastic constants for the NaX(Mn, Ti)O2 structures met the mechanical stability requirement of the orthorhombic lattice system, and the formation energy values were found to be negative, suggesting that the structures are stable with the predicted voltage window of between 3.410 and 4.132 V. This study also investigates the thermodynamic properties of a doped system, revealing that the systems remain stable during battery operation, reducing structural damage risk.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1821090</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1821090</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mechanical response characteristics of different asphalt pavement structures under realistic tire loading conditions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wang Zhenxuan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To precisely assess the mechanical responses of asphalt pavement structures subjected to heavy-duty traffic loading, a comprehensive finite element modeling framework integrating three-dimensional tire tread patterns and laser-scanned pavement surface textures was developed. A 12R22.5 heavy-duty radial tire finite element model incorporating detailed tread geometry was established, along with a multilayer pavement structural model. Utilizing three-dimensional laser scanning technology, the surface textures of three typical asphalt pavements, namely, AC, SMA, and PAC, were reconstructed to accurately capture realistic surface morphologies, and a realistic tire–pavement contact mechanical model was subsequently established. Based on the analysis of dynamic mechanical responses, the study investigates the distinct mechanical behavior of various pavement structures under real tire loading conditions and reveals the underlying mechanisms of structure-dependent load transfer. Research findings suggest that the non-uniform contact stresses from actual tire loads lead to significant stress concentration in the top layer of pavement. Significant differences are observed among AC, SMA, and PAC structures in terms of the magnitude characteristics and depth distribution of horizontal stress (S11), vertical stress (S22), and vertical displacement (U2). Notably, owing to its high air-void structure, the PAC pavement demonstrates distinct stress diffusion behavior and distribution uniformity compared with AC and SMA pavements. The findings offer a theoretical foundation for the optimization of asphalt pavement structures and material design, tailored to withstand the stresses of heavy-duty traffic.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1802361</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1802361</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Rate dependence of corrosion-induced surface cracking in concrete: lattice modelling and experiments]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ismail Aldellaa</author><author>Peter Grassl</author>
        <description><![CDATA[It is not fully understood how corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete is affected by current density, which controls the corrosion rate in experiments with impressed currents. Here, it is tested if creep is the dominant mechanism by combining experiments with impressed current densities of 50, 100 and 500 μA/cm2 and water–cement ratios of 0.38, 0.45, 0.55 and 0.70, and numerical modelling with a random lattice approach which accounts for creep but neglects by design both migration of corrosion products and the dependence of corrosion product composition on corrosion rate. Based on the experimental results, corrosion penetration at a fixed surface crack opening is found to increase with decreasing corrosion rate and with increasing water–cement ratio. The lattice approach incorporating fracture and creep, but excluding migration and compaction of corrosion products, significantly underestimates the experimentally observed dependencies of corrosion-induced cracking on corrosion rate for high water–cement ratios. This demonstrates that fracture and creep alone are insufficient to reproduce the experimentally observed rate dependence of corrosion-induced cracking.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1842532</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1842532</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Study on the durability and micro-mechanism of granite manufactured sand concrete under coupled alkali-silica reaction and sulfate attack]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Junhui He</author><author>Yuhan Luo</author><author>Xiaoyu Liu</author><author>Liuyuan Lan</author><author>Junlin Liang</author><author>Xiaolong Yang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Granite manufactured sand is increasingly used as a substitute for river sand, but its potential alkali-silica reactivity may aggravate durability deterioration in sulfate-rich environments. This study investigated the coupled effect of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and sulfate attack on granite manufactured sand concrete, and evaluated the mitigating performance of fly ash, silica fume, slag, alumina, and aluminum hydroxide by sulfate wet-dry cycling, chloride ion penetration testing, and SEM/EDS/XRD analyses. ASR accelerated sulfate-induced strength deterioration; after 100 wet-dry cycles, the concrete containing 30% fly ash maintained a corrosion resistance coefficient of about 0.79, whereas the coefficients of the other single-admixture mixtures were below 0.75. Among the blended systems, slag + alumina, slag + aluminum hydroxide, and fly ash + silica fume + slag all retained corrosion resistance coefficients above 0.75 after 100 cycles. EDS results further showed that the Ca/Si ratio decreased from 0.93 in the reference group to 0.64, 0.51, and 0.51 in the fly ash, silica fume, and slag groups, respectively, but increased to 1.43 in the alumina group, indicating clear differences in gel chemistry and sulfate-response pathways. Overall, mineral admixtures improved matrix compactness and chloride resistance, whereas aluminum-based additives alone provided weaker sulfate resistance; the combined use of mineral admixtures and aluminum-based compounds showed a synergistic benefit under coupled deterioration.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1815017</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1815017</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Foundation models for multimodal image data fusion in materials science]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ali Riza Durmaz</author><author>James D. Lamb</author><author>McLean P. Echlin</author><author>Tresa M. Pollock</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This work comprehensively assesses the capabilities of recently emerging foundation models for multimodal image matching and registration in the materials science and engineering (MSE) domain. A distinctive feature in correlative materials microscopy is that the images, which need to be spatially associated, commonly not only have limited mutual information but also distinct length scales. To date, it is largely unknown how foundational multimodal matchers, such as MatchAnything RoMa or ELoFTR, which were trained predominantly with macroscale images from the human environment, generalize to image pairs in such an out-of-domain setting—especially given the pronounced information and field of view disparities in image pairs. To evaluate these models, we use the recently published AmalgaMatch dataset which covers 187 image pairs partitioned into six groups which represent distinct image matching tasks commonly faced in correlative materials microscopy and 19 subsets representing different materials. This dataset with its diverse microscopy modalities and broad range of depicted metals, alloys, and ceramics facilitates evaluation of these models in a rather representative manner. We observe that MatchAnything RoMa, as opposed to the ELoFTR variant, attains satisfactory matching results for many matching tasks and materials represented in this dataset. In contrast, image pairs within the dislocation characterization, slip partitioning and multi-scale groups pose a difficult challenge for these models. These pairs often exhibit limited mutual information and strong field of view mismatch, with field of view ratios reaching down to 2%. We propose inference strategies and workflows which embed a foundation model in an image processing pipeline to increase the matching quality and robustness and ultimately overcome aforementioned challenges inherent to MSE matching tasks.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1824942</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1824942</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mechanical properties and comprehensive evaluation of fly ash-metakaolin geopolymer mortar: combined effect of FA/MK ratio, NaOH concentration and curing condition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Shaolong Wu</author><author>Zheng Zhang</author><author>Zhiqiang Huo</author><author>Zhengxun Yang</author><author>Jinwei Jia</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Geopolymers are widely regarded as the best low-carbon alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). However, most previous studies on precursor composition, alkali concentration, and curing conditions have been limited to single factors or partial combinations, failing to reflect the combined effects of all variables simultaneously. As a result, the optimal mixtures derived from isolated variables can easily fall into local optima and mask the true comprehensive potential of the material, significantly reducing their reference values. Therefore, this work designed a systematic experimental program covering 72 mix combinations, and a dynamic multi-objective evaluation model integrating the AHP-entropy weight method and grey clustering analysis was established to simultaneously assess mechanical performance, workability, and environmental impact (GWP). Comparative studies have shown that with the optimization of these factors, the comprehensive performance of Fly ash-metakaolin (FA-MK) geopolymer mortar has been significantly enhanced. The model identified an optimal mixture (FA/MK = 6:4, 12 mol/L NaOH, ambient curing) achieving a compressive strength of 65 MPa and a GWP of only 193.65 kg/t. Compared to higher-MK or heat-cured systems, this mixture avoids microstructural damage, reduces GWP by up to 66.36 kg/t, and improves workability, with a strength reduction of no more than 6.4 MPa. Compared to the pure FA system, compressive strength more than doubled at an acceptable environmental cost. More importantly, by integrating subjective AHP and objective entropy weighting, the model dynamically adjusts indicator weights to reflect specific engineering priorities, overcoming the limitations of traditional single-objective optimization. Beyond FA-MK geopolymers, it can be extended to other multi-source solid waste cementitious systems, serving as a flexible and practical tool for customized mixture design in sustainable construction.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1788487</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1788487</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Experimental study on mechanical properties and microscopic mechanism of solidified slit soil with nanocomposite fibers]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qixiang Yin</author><author>Qiangqiang Cheng</author><author>Mingjiao Hou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Solid waste management and utilization are pivotal to the operation of a circular economy. Within the present study, nano-silica and nano-graphene composite fibers were incorporated as modifiers into solidified silt soil specimens, with the aim of examining how these fibrous additives affect the specimens’ mechanical performance and microstructural evolution. The findings indicate that at the 28-day curing stage, the compressive strength of glass fiber-reinforced soil specimens is 75.6% greater than that of the unmodified control group; furthermore, the addition of 1.0% silica particles results in a further 118.3% enhancement in compressive strength. Additionally, the correlation between graphene content and material toughness exhibits a nonlinear trend: as the graphene dosage increases, the toughness of specimens modified with nano-graphene composite fibers rises initially before declining thereafter. In the early hardening phase, the introduction of nano-graphene composite fibers exerts a notable promotional effect on the tensile strength development of the soil specimens. Microstructural analysis results demonstrate that elevated silica particle concentrations enhance the interfacial adhesion between flocculent reaction products, crystalline phases, and the fiber-reinforced matrix. More specifically, acicular crystalline structures fill the interfacial gaps between glass fibers and matrix constituents, forming a strong mechanical interlocking mechanism between the fibers and their adjacent matrix. Collectively, this research lays a theoretical and experimental foundation for the stability control of solidified silt soil.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1799597</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1799597</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect of RAP surface modification on mechanical properties of stable crushed gravel with mineral admixture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dengqin Yu</author><author>Zhibao Zhang</author><author>Hongtao Qin</author><author>Xu Wu</author><author>Jin Chen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To address the key bottleneck of weakened bonding at the interface between inorganic binder and aggregate caused by the surface asphalt film on reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) coarse aggregate, a method using mineral admixture slurry for RAP interface modification is proposed. Through compaction, unconfined compressive strength, splitting strength, and drying shrinkage tests, the effects of different RAP contents (12%, 28%, 44%, 59%) on the mechanical properties of recycled mixtures before and after modification were systematically studied, and a comprehensive evaluation was conducted in combination with function fitting (R2 ≥ 0.94) and life cycle carbon emission accounting. The results show that interface modification reduces the optimum moisture content of the P component (modified RAP) by 1.10%∼7.20% compared with the unmodified NP component (unmodified RAP), significantly improving compaction properties; the compressive strength of the P component changes in a quadratic parabolic pattern with the increase of RAP content (R2 ≥ 0.94), reaching a 28-day compressive strength of 6.5 MPa at 28% content, which is 25.0% higher than that of fully crushed stone mixture, while the NP component shows a quadratic decreasing function (R2 ≥ 0.98); the 28-day splitting tensile strength of the P component increases by 94.1% compared with the 7-day strength, and the 60-day drying shrinkage microstrain is reduced by 67.1% compared with cement- stabilized crushed stone; carbon emission accounting shows that when the RAP content is 28%, the carbon emissions per unit volume of mixture are reduced by 54.3% compared with cement-stabilized crushed stone. Interface modification technology effectively achieves the synergistic optimization of “strength improvement-crack resistance enhancement-carbon reduction” for RAP recycled mixtures, providing a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of RAP in semi-rigid bases.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1799973</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1799973</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Deformation and failure modes of bedded and jointed rock mass material]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zixu Wang</author><author>Kepeng Hou</author><author>Huafen Sun</author><author>Yalei Zhe</author><author>Junwei Ma</author><author>Yubang Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The stability of bedded and jointed rock masses is threatened by progressive failure at the roof-wall junction, where a triangular relaxation zone (TRZ) forms due to excavation unloading. This study investigates the TRZ failure mechanism and its controlling factors. A mechanical model was developed to derive a stability coefficient considering bedding spacing, stacked overhanging segment length, and longitudinal joint length. FLAC3D simulations compared stope orientations along dip and strike directions. Sc decreases with increasing S and L but increases with B. Intact rock layers thicker than 10 cm show short-term self-stability. Dip-oriented stopes produced greater roof displacement and stress concentration than strike-oriented ones, triggering progressive bedding-plane failure. The TRZ evolves through delamination, cantilever bending, and chain failure along weak interfaces. Dip-oriented layouts intersect more bedding planes, worsening stability. These findings provide quantifiable criteria for support design and stope layout optimization to enhance mining safety.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1819612</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1819612</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect of an inconel 625 Ni-based alloy interlayer on microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar rotary friction welded Ti-6Al-4V/304 stainless steel joints]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rui Tang</author><author>Chunquan Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study introduces an Inconel 625 interlayer to overcome the inherent incompatibility between Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy and 304 stainless steel during rotary friction welding. The interlayer fundamentally altered the failure mechanism, shifting the fracture path from the brittle interface to the Ti-6Al-4V base metal, thereby achieving a superior strength-ductility synergy. The joint with the Inconel 625 interlayer attained an ultimate tensile strength of 726.80 MPa and a remarkable elongation of 13.25%, representing enhancements of 15.08% and 79.30%, respectively, compared to the direct joint without an interlayer. Microstructural analysis reveals that the Inconel 625 interlayer served as a diffusion barrier and reaction moderator, effectively suppressing the formation of detrimental Ti-Fe intermetallic compounds. Instead, interfacial regions were dominated by Ni-based compounds (FeNi, Ti2Ni, and Ni3Ti on the Ti-6Al-4V side; FeNi3 and FeNi on the 304 stainless steel side). The Vickers hardness profile (304 stainless steel: 268.4 HV1.0, Inconel 625: 342 HV1.0, Ti-6Al-4V: 337.6 HV1.0) indicates the establishment of a rational mechanical gradient, where the Inconel 625 interlayer functioned as a mechanical buffer to mitigate stress concentration. The excellent performance of the Ti-6Al-4V/Inconel 625/304 stainless steel weld joint stems from both the strengthening effect and the combined chemical–mechanical synergy enabled by the Inconel 625 interlayer, offering a viable strategy for high-performance solid-state joining of other challenging dissimilar materials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1839636</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1839636</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Performance evaluation and engineering application of high-modulus asphalt mixtures with various modifications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ao Dong</author><author>Zheng Zhang</author><author>Ruiyun Zhu</author><author>Guoshu Wang</author><author>Ziyao Ping</author><author>Tingting Xie</author><author>Dongzhao Li</author><author>Erhu Yan</author><author>Linbing Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[High-modulus asphalt mixtures are critical for long-life pavements due to their excellent deformation resistance. This study systematically compares three modification approaches—unmodified low-penetration-grade asphalt, natural asphalt modified asphalt, and polymer modified asphalt combined with two gradation systems (HFM-20 and HFM-16). Performance was evaluated through dynamic modulus, wheel tracking, and four-point bending fatigue tests. Results show that the natural asphalt modified mixture exhibits the best overall performance, combining high modulus, high rutting resistance, and excellent fatigue life, making it the preferred solution for long-life pavements. The polymer modified mixture demonstrates outstanding high-temperature performance, while the unmodified hard-grade asphalt shows high stiffness. HFM-20 gradation better leverages the advantages of hard-grade asphalt, whereas HFM-16 provides a compensatory effect for softer binders. Microstructural characterization (FTIR, SARA, XRF) reveals that natural asphalt’s organic components are fully compatible with petroleum asphalt. Higher asphaltene and resin contents enhance adhesion and high-temperature deformation resistance. The gel-type structure of natural asphalt, classified by the Gaestel colloidal instability index (Ic), provides superior rutting resistance compared to sol-type materials. The inorganic fraction, primarily calcium carbonate, forms a natural mastic structure that balances stiffness and flexibility. These synergistic microstructural features underpin the exceptional performance of natural asphalt modified mixtures. The findings have been successfully applied to the Wuyue Expressway expansion project, providing a technical basis for material selection and structural design of high-modulus asphalt mixtures.]]></description>
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