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Buildings
Special Issues
Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications
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Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 3615

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Raafat El-Hacha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: FRP-strengthened concrete/steel structures; reinforcing/prestressing concrete structures; performance of hybrid structural members; ultrahigh-performance concrete; shape memory alloys for strengthening and new construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are transforming modern construction by enhancing the strength, durability, and resilience of structural systems. This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research on the application of FRP materials for strengthening and retrofitting concrete and steel structures, reinforcing and prestressing concrete elements, and advancing hybrid structural members.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, FRP strengthening techniques for reinforced concrete and steel structures, innovative reinforcement and prestressing solutions using FRP, and performance of hybrid systems that integrate FRP with traditional materials. Contributions exploring long-term durability, structural behavior under extreme conditions, and novel design methodologies for FRP applications are particularly encouraged.

We welcome original research articles, review papers, and case studies that provide valuable insights into the evolving role of FRP composites in the built environment. This Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for engineers, researchers, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge and advance the practical implementation of fiber-reinforced composite materials in modern infrastructure.

Submit your work and be part of the future of high-performance structural engineering!

Prof. Dr. Raafat El-Hacha
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • material behavior, including bond, durability, fatigue, and long-term performance
  • fabrication, processing, and testing methods
  • analysis and design
  • applications in structural concrete with or without prestressing
  • applications in wood, masonry, and steel structures
  • strengthening and rehabilitation of structures
  • seismic performance and retrofit
  • structural health monitoring and intelligent sensing
  • fire resistance
  • extreme condition performance
  • hybrid structural members
  • structural shapes and fully composite systems
  • anchorage systems and connections
  • innovative structural systems
  • full-scale testing
  • field applications and case studies
  • codes and standards
  • sustainability and life-cycle cost

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 4216 KB  
Article
Image Recognition-Based Analysis and Simulation Optimization of Mechanical Performance of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
by Huifeng Su, Kece Guo, Wenlong Geng, Ning Cheng, Chenrui Li, Dehao Kong and Zhuoer Yang
Buildings 2026, 16(4), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16040704 - 9 Feb 2026
Viewed by 320
Abstract
The traditional analysis of the mechanical performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) predominantly relies on the assumption of an ideally random fiber distribution. This approach fails to account for the significant distribution inhomogeneity caused by practical construction processes like vibration, creating a discrepancy [...] Read more.
The traditional analysis of the mechanical performance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) predominantly relies on the assumption of an ideally random fiber distribution. This approach fails to account for the significant distribution inhomogeneity caused by practical construction processes like vibration, creating a discrepancy between simulation and reality. To address this, the main aim of this study was to demonstrate the critical impact of realistic fiber distribution on mechanical behavior by integrating image recognition with meso-mechanical simulation. Multi-factor controlled experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of vibration energy, fiber content, and aggregate volume fraction. An image recognition method was developed to accurately characterize the real spatial distribution of fibers, and these data were used to construct a three-dimensional meso-scale finite element model. Compared with the traditional model assuming random distribution, the proposed model based on the actual distribution showed significantly improved agreement with experimental results in terms of crack propagation paths and reduced the prediction error of the initial cracking load by more than 16.3%. For practitioners, the key takeaway is that modeling based on the actual fiber distribution is crucial for achieving realistic simulations. Our work provides a validated methodology to incorporate real distribution data, thereby improving the reliability of numerical assessments for SFRC structures, rather than relying on idealized random distribution assumptions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications)
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36 pages, 7218 KB  
Article
Effectiveness of Passive CFRP and Active Fe-SMA Confinement in Enhancing Drift Capacity and Seismic Performance of RC Columns Under Extreme Drift Levels
by Adel Al Ekkawi and Raafat El-Hacha
Buildings 2026, 16(1), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010243 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 683
Abstract
This study presents an experimental investigation into the seismic performance of seismically deficient reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns retrofitted with passive and active confinement systems. Four single-cantilever RC columns, representing 1/3-scale bridge piers, were constructed with poor transverse reinforcement detailing to simulate seismic [...] Read more.
This study presents an experimental investigation into the seismic performance of seismically deficient reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns retrofitted with passive and active confinement systems. Four single-cantilever RC columns, representing 1/3-scale bridge piers, were constructed with poor transverse reinforcement detailing to simulate seismic deficiency. One column was left un-strengthened for baseline comparison, while the remaining three were retrofitted using: (1) a CFRP jacket, (2) welded Fe-SMA plates, and (3) bolted Fe-SMA plates. All columns were subjected to quasi-static lateral cyclic push-only loading reaching extreme drift levels exceeding 16% and high loading rates up to 6 mm/s. The study specifically explores the confinement effectiveness of CFRP and thermally activated Fe-SMA plates, comparing their contributions to lateral strength, ductility, energy dissipation, failure mode, and damage suppression. The results show that while the as-built column failed at 3.65% drift due to brittle flexural-shear failure, all retrofitted columns demonstrated significantly enhanced ductility, drift capacity, and post-peak behaviour. The CFRP and Fe-SMA jackets effectively delayed damage initiation, minimized core degradation, and improved energy dissipation. The bolted Fe-SMA system exhibited the highest and full restoration of lateral strength, while the welded system achieved the greatest increase in cumulative energy dissipation of around 40%. This research highlights the practical advantages and seismic effectiveness of Fe-SMA and CFRP confinement systems under extreme drift levels. However, future work should explore full-scale column applications, refine anchorage techniques for improved composite interaction, and investigate long-term durability under cyclic environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications)
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17 pages, 3663 KB  
Article
Shear Mechanism of UHPFRC Prisms Reinforced with FRP Rebars Across Shear Plane
by Mohammad Alameri
Buildings 2025, 15(24), 4472; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15244472 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 576
Abstract
This study investigates the interfaces of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). The interfaces of UHPFRC-to-UHPFRC were studied using two techniques: (i) slant shear test and (ii) shear key test. Moreover, the glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars were also used in the shear plane to [...] Read more.
This study investigates the interfaces of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). The interfaces of UHPFRC-to-UHPFRC were studied using two techniques: (i) slant shear test and (ii) shear key test. Moreover, the glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars were also used in the shear plane to optimise durability. Six UHPFRC push-off specimens with different GFRP reinforcement ratios and changing shear plane angles were investigated and compared to existing models and codes. The results showed that the slant shear and shear test performed better without adding the epoxy agents due to the presence of steel fibres, which provided the excellent benefit of bridging the cracks and increasing the friction resistance. Furthermore, the shear strength increased substantially with inclined shear planes, rising from 607 kN in the vertical case to 1837 kN at a 60° inclination. However, the existing equations for predicting the shear strength overpredict the shear strength with a vertical shear plane and underpredict the shear strength of the angled shear plane. The test results also confirm that steel fibres enhance shear transfer through crack bridging, while epoxy weakens the interface by limiting mechanical interlock. The linear elastic behaviour of GFRP rebars also influences the shear transfer mechanism by contributing dowel action without yielding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications)
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17 pages, 4328 KB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Incorporating Basalt Fiber
by Xiaojiang Hong, Yanqing Song and Jin Chai Lee
Buildings 2025, 15(19), 3548; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15193548 - 2 Oct 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
Basalt fiber (BF) can notably improve the mechanical properties of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) through its crack-bridging and pull-out mechanisms, making it suitable for application in super high-rise buildings and large-span structures. This study assesses the influence of BF contents of 0%, 0.1%, [...] Read more.
Basalt fiber (BF) can notably improve the mechanical properties of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) through its crack-bridging and pull-out mechanisms, making it suitable for application in super high-rise buildings and large-span structures. This study assesses the influence of BF contents of 0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7% (relative to the weight of cementitious materials) on the workability, mechanical properties, and microstructure of LWAC. The results showed that adding BF to LWAC can moderately weaken the slump, significantly enhance the mechanical properties, and lead to a maximum increase in specific strength of 7.3%. Compared with LWAC without BF, the maximum increases in compressive strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus of LWAC with BF at 28 days were 24.7%, 33.9%, and 38.57%, respectively. In the microstructure, BF can connect the cracks in the internal structure of concrete, which is an important factor to consider when choosing a fiber to improve the mechanical properties of concrete. These conclusions provide a reference point for improving the mechanical properties of LWAC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials in Building and Bridge Applications)
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