Recent Developments in Structural Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete structures, constructed using conventional concrete, are foundational elements in civil engineering and infrastructure development. However, traditional concrete exhibits inherent weaknesses in tensile strength and resistance to cracking. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) addresses these limitations by incorporating fibers into the concrete matrix. Fibers enhance tensile strength, toughness, and crack resistance, making FRC advantageous in applications with enhanced crack control, flexibility, and durability. Furthermore, using environmentally friendly fibers and adopting sustainable techniques in FRC contribute to reducing traditional concrete's significant environmental impact while maintaining or improving its overall performance. Therefore, FRC represents a forward-thinking approach to sustainable construction, combining the structural benefits of fiber reinforcement with eco-friendly materials and processes.

The distinctive properties of FRC have evolved processes in the construction and design of structures, focusing on the importance of highlighting the latest innovations and research in this field. This Special Issue combines cutting-edge research and practical applications and invites original contributions focusing on FRC's properties, behavior, design, and applications in civil engineering and construction projects. Furthermore, this Special Issue will advance knowledge on the performance and behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete in diverse construction environments, offering valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and practitioners engaged in experimental, theoretical, case-based, and numerical studies. Submissions are encouraged from a broad range of topics, including but not limited to the following:

• Mechanical properties of FRC under various loading conditions (tensile, compressive, shear);
• Fiber–matrix interaction and bonding mechanisms;
• Influence of fiber type (steel, glass, synthetic, natural) and content on concrete performance;
• Durability and long-term behavior of FRC in aggressive environments;
• Behavior of FRC under static and dynamic loading conditions;
• Flexural, shear, and torsional performance of FRC elements (beams, slabs, walls);
• Seismic response and design of fiber-reinforced concrete structures;
• Advanced numerical models for simulating the behavior of FRC structures;
• Finite element analysis (FEA) of fiber-reinforced concrete elements;
• Damage and fracture mechanics in FRC;
• Computational techniques for optimizing fiber distribution and orientation;
• Performance of FRC in green building and sustainable construction;
• Case studies on the use of FRC in large-scale infrastructure projects (bridges, tunnels, roads);
• Applications of FRC in the repair and rehabilitation of existing structures.

Dr. Maria C. Naoum
Dr. Nikos Papadopoulos
Dr. George Sapidis
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Fibers is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2000 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.

• fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC)
• mechanical response
• durability
• experimental investigation
• numerical analysis
• fracture mechanism
• mechanical properties
• steel fibers
• synthetic fibers
• natural fibers