Microstructure-environment related fatigue deformation-cracking behavior and data-physics driven crack growth life prediction of perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer

Yuzhe, J, Wei, L, Serjouei, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7250-4131, Xiaobo, C, Zifan, H, Liang, C and Pilin, S, 2026. Microstructure-environment related fatigue deformation-cracking behavior and data-physics driven crack growth life prediction of perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 142: 105418. ISSN 0167-8442

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Abstract

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers often suffer fatigue failure under complex environmental conditions, limiting their long-term reliability. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of environmental factors such as hygrothermal conditions and corrosion on their multi-scale constitutive response and fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we integrate experimental insights with a physics-informed machine learning (PIML) framework for fatigue life prediction. In-situ experiments and microstructural characterization were performed to quantify the effects of temperature, humidity, and corrosive environments on the viscoelastic response and fatigue crack growth of PFSA ionomer. Results reveal that under ambient conditions, PFSA exhibits typical viscoelastic behavior, explained by a proposed three-level hierarchical structural model. Hygrothermal exposure leads to significant thermal softening and network disruption through hydrogen bonding, and water cluster interactions, whearas chemical corrosion induces side-chain damage and subsequent macroscopic structural destruction. These environmental degradations markedly accelerate FCG rates and alter fracture morphologies. Leveraging these insights, a dual-network Physics-Informed Machine Learning model (PIML-PR) was developed to predict FCG behavior under coupled environmental and mechanical conditions. By fusing physically derived parameters with environmental descriptors, the model achieves high predictive accuracy (≈98 %) in capturing environment-sensitive FCG behavior. This integrated experimental–computational framework provides a pathway for physics-informed lifetime assessment of polymer electrolyte membranes under service-relevant conditions.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics
Creators:	Yuzhe, J., Wei, L., Serjouei, A., Xiaobo, C., Zifan, H., Liang, C. and Pilin, S.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	March 2026
Volume:	142
ISSN:	0167-8442
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105418 DOI 2551824 Other
Rights:	This accepted manuscript is shared under a CC BY-NC-ND licence after a 24 month embargo.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	15 Jan 2026 09:29
Last Modified:	15 Jan 2026 09:29
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55047

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