Composite materials are known for their high stiffness and strength at lower weight as compared to conventional structural materials. Recently, there has been a growing interest in finding the new ways to decrease delamination failure, which is a life limiting factor of laminated composites. This review paper emphasizes on the effects of different reinforcement structures on mode I fracture toughness and possible ways to improve fracture toughness. A brief description on intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of crack growth has been discussed along with the earlier investigations and recent developments for mode I fracture toughness testing. Factors that affect the fracture toughness are also discussed. A brief knowledge of mode I fracture toughness of traditional and advanced fiber-reinforced composites is given, which could help researchers to understand fracture behaviors of composites and thus, it can help engineers to design composites with higher interlaminar strength.

Bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted great interest due to their special functions and wide applications. However, it is still a big challenge to construct a durable superhydrophobic coating for large-scale applications due to its easy destruction by the mechanochemical attack. In this mini-review, we present the state-ofthe-art developments in the rational design of mechanochemical durable and self-healing superhydrophobic surfaces. First, the mechanically durable superhydrophobic surfaces are constructed to endure mechanical damage by adjusting the surface morphology and increasing the binding force between the substrates and the modified materials. Second, chemical damages also have been taken into consideration to develop chemically robust superhydrophobic surfaces, such as chemical etching, ultraviolet (UV)-light irradiation, and bioerosion, etc. Third, endowing superhydrophobic coatings with self-healing function can effectively improve the durability and prolong the lifespan of the coatings by releasing low-surface-energy agents or regenerating topographic structures. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives in developing super durable bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces by structure design and chemistry control are discussed. The innovative points provided in this mini-review will provide deep fundamental insight for prolonging the lifetime of the superhydrophobic surfaces and enable their practical applications in the near future.

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