We invite original research contributions that explore the role of advanced materials in enhancing energy harvesting and conversion within mechanical systems. This interdisciplinary topic bridges key areas of Materials Science, Energy Engineering, and Mechanical Design, with a focus on enabling technologies for sustainable and efficient energy utilization.

Scope of the Special Topic:

1. Advanced Materials for Energy Applications

Innovative materials are at the heart of modern energy solutions. We seek research on the development, characterization, and integration of materials engineered for high efficiency in energy capture and conversion. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and pyroelectric materials for mechanical energy harvesting

- Magnetostrictive and triboelectric materials for self-powered systems

- Nanostructured and multifunctional materials that enhance energy conversion rates

- Smart and adaptive materials that respond to mechanical, thermal, or environmental stimuli

- Composite materials designed for structural energy harvesting applications

- Material degradation, durability, and fatigue under energy cycling conditions

2. Energy Harvesting Mechanisms in Mechanical Systems

We encourage submissions focused on experimental and computational studies of energy harvesting techniques integrated within mechanical systems, such as:

- Structural integration of energy harvesting components (e.g., in automotive, aerospace, or biomedical devices)

- Design and optimization of mechanical systems for maximum energy capture

- Modeling and simulation of material behavior under dynamic loading using tools like FEM or multiphysics platforms

- Mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion pathways using novel material systems

3. Conversion and Storage Technologies

The efficient conversion and storage of harvested energy is critical. Topics of interest include:

- Coupling of materials with energy storage devices (e.g., microbatteries, supercapacitors)

- Thermodynamic and mechanical efficiency analysis of energy conversion systems

- Hybrid systems combining mechanical harvesting with solar, thermal, or electrochemical energy

- Integration of energy harvesting materials into IoT and self-sustaining devices

This Collection aims to address global energy challenges through material innovation, supporting the transition to sustainable technologies and systems with enhanced energy autonomy. Researchers from academia, industry, and national labs are encouraged to submit cutting-edge work that demonstrates experimental validation, novel design approaches, or breakthrough material systems.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 7, and SDG 9.

Keywords: Energy Harvesting Materials, Mechanical-to-Electrical Energy Conversion, Piezoelectric and Thermoelectric Materials, Smart and Functional Materials, Multifunctional Composites, Energy Storage Integration, Sustainable Mechanical Systems

The continuous evolution of emerging materials and advanced structural concepts has revolutionized the landscape of engineering design and performance. In recent years, innovations such as meta-structures, lattice composites, recyclable composite materials, and advanced joining technologies have provided unprecedented opportunities for lightweight, durable, and sustainable components. At the same time, the emergence of advanced manufacturing processes, including additive manufacturing, has enabled the fabrication of complex geometries and multi-material systems with tailored functionalities—reshaping how materials and structures are conceived and realized.

However, the introduction of these materials and manufacturing routes calls for a comprehensive understanding of their fatigue and fracture behavior and a reconsideration of design philosophies toward durability and life-based approaches. Ensuring structural integrity across the service life requires integrating experimental characterization, computational modeling, and in-situ health monitoring to evaluate performance under complex loading and environmental conditions. Developing such frameworks is essential for transferring advanced materials from laboratory innovation to real-world applications in aerospace, energy, automotive, and biomedical industries.

This "Topical Collection" seeks to bring together cutting-edge research addressing the fatigue, fracture, and integrity assessment of emerging materials and structures. It aims to bridge the gap between material innovation and structural reliability by highlighting the interplay between mechanical performance, design strategies, and predictive life assessment. Contributions are invited in the following scopes:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) in damage detection and health monitoring of structures

• Fatigue behaviors of additive manufactured materials

• Fatigue and crack growth behavior under harsh environmental conditions

• Fatigue of superalloys

• Hydrogen embrittlement and structural integrity

• Interactions of fatigue with other damage mechanisms: Creep-fatigue, Corrosion-fatigue, etc.

• Integrity of adhesive bonded, riveted/bolted, and ultrasonic welded joints

• Meta-Structures and advanced composite structures

• Very high cycle fatigue (VHCF)

• Crystal plasticity finite element method

• Multi-scale mechanical modeling of fatigue crack initiation and propagation

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 9.

Keywords: Structural integrity; Fatigue; Crack growth; Condition monitoring; Damage detection; Additive manufacturing; Composite structures; Adhesive joints; Supper alloys