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J. Compos. Sci.
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Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites...
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Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES)

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 2171

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Milani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering ABC, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: structural analysis; masonry; earthquake engineering; FEM; limit analysis; historical constructions; elastomeric seismic isolators; FRP-FRCM reinforcement; genetic algorithms (GA); homogenization theory; rubber vulcanization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Erica Magagnini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: structural design; masonry; earthquake engineering; FRP-FRCM reinforcement; historical constructions; FEM; dynamic analysis; structural health monitoring; genetic algorithms (GA)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that we announce a new Special Issue of J. Compos. Sci, entitled "Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES)". 

The 4th International Conference of Steel and Composite for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES) will be held in Piacenza, Italy, on 9–12 July 2025. The conference will be jointly hosted by the Piacenza's Regional Campus Arata of Politecnico di Milano.

This Special Issue features expanded papers invited by the 4th ICSCES organizers, based on selected conference contributions. 

This Special Issue seeks to establish a high-caliber multidisciplinary forum for the dissemination and critical discussion of recent advances, prevailing challenges, and emerging trends in the domains of steel and composite materials, computational modelling and simulation, and structural health monitoring of engineering structures. Scholars and practitioners are encouraged to contribute original research articles and comprehensive review papers that reflect substantive findings and foster scholarly exchange.

The main topics encompass a wide range of subjects related to composite and steel structures, including innovative materials (e.g., FRP, natural fibres, masonry, timber, rubber), structural rehabilitation techniques, computational modeling methods, AI and big data applications, structural health monitoring, non-destructive testing, and performance analysis of advanced composite systems at multiple scales (nano to macro).

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Buildings.

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Milani
Dr. Erica Magagnini
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 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. Journal of Composites Science 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 1800 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

  • steel
  • composite materials
  • modeling and simulation
  • structural health monitoring
  • experimental studies

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 7534 KB  
Article
Analytical Model and FE Implementation for FRCM-Retrofitted Flat Masonry Under Direct Shear Tests
by Hamza Tahat, Natalia Pingaro and Mario Fagone
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(4), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10040177 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 316
Abstract
This study presents an analytical and numerical framework to describe the debonding behavior of fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM)-reinforced flat masonry elements under direct shear tests. A sawtooth shear stress–slip law, initially proposed for Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) systems by two of the authors, [...] Read more.
This study presents an analytical and numerical framework to describe the debonding behavior of fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM)-reinforced flat masonry elements under direct shear tests. A sawtooth shear stress–slip law, initially proposed for Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) systems by two of the authors, is calibrated for a PBO-FRCM system based on the experimental results available in the literature. These recent experimental outcomes on flat masonry pillars serve to validate the model by capturing essential interface behaviors, including residual strength and pseudo-linear hardening. Furthermore, a finite element (FE) model of the specimens has been developed to simulate the interface response, allowing for a comparison between numerical predictions and experimental results. The sawtooth law is implemented directly in commercial FE software without the need for custom coding. Additionally, a mesh sensitivity analysis was performed to verify numerical stability and identify the optimal discretization parameters for consistent model response. Results show good agreement among experimental observations, the sawtooth analytical model, and FE simulations. The analytical model slightly underestimates the experimental peak load by about 4–6%, while the FE predictions differ from the experimental results by less than 10%, confirming the reliability of the proposed modeling framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES))
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29 pages, 6030 KB  
Article
Ballistic Impact Tests on Fiber Metal Laminates: Experiments and Modeling
by Nicola Cefis, Riccardo Rosso, Paolo Astori, Alessandro Airoldi and Roberto Fedele
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(3), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10030147 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 544
Abstract
In the aviation industry the so-called ballistic impact of small accidental or human-made sources on aircraft elements during their service life encompasses several scenarios of practical interest. The experimental assessment of ballistic impact requires dedicated infrastructures (such as the light-gas gun system utilized [...] Read more.
In the aviation industry the so-called ballistic impact of small accidental or human-made sources on aircraft elements during their service life encompasses several scenarios of practical interest. The experimental assessment of ballistic impact requires dedicated infrastructures (such as the light-gas gun system utilized in this study) and exhibits intrinsic difficulties, mainly concerning the proper acceleration of a projectile and the accurate measurement by a high-speed camera of its (inlet and outlet) velocity. As a first objective, this study aimed at characterizing the dynamic response of fiber metal laminates, manufactured ad hoc by the authors with two different stacking sequences currently not available in commerce. The layups included aluminum 2024 T3 and aramid fiber-reinforced prepregs, leading through specific treatments to excellent specific properties. The collision of the laminate with a 25 g, 9 mm radius steel sphere, traveling at speeds ranging from 90 to 145 m/s, caused a variety of scenarios: partial or complete penetration, with the projectile passing through and continuing its trajectory, remaining stuck in the sample (embedment) or even being bounced back (ricochet). The experimental information led to the estimation, for each typology of sample, of a conventional ballistic limit according to the Lambert-Jonas approximation, as a second objective, these data were utilized to validate an accurate heterogeneous model of the samples developed in the ABAQUS® platform, discretized by finite elements in explicit dynamics and including geometric nonlinearity and contact. We describe plasticity and damage of the metal layers by the Johnson–Cook phenomenological model, progressive failure in the fiber-reinforced plies through a 2D Hashin criterion with damage evolution, and interlaminar debonding at multiple cohesive interfaces governed by the Benzeggagh–Kenane criterion. The outlet speed of the bullet measured during the experiments was retrieved correctly by this model, and a satisfactory agreement of the finite element predictions was found with the deformation patterns and the damage mechanisms identified by post mortem visual inspection. Finally, several discussion points are raised, concerning the robustness of the numerical analyses, the reliability of the constitutive modeling and the identification of the governing parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES))
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25 pages, 4235 KB  
Article
Bond–Slip Performance of GFRP Rebars in Concrete Under Alkaline and Thermal Conditioning
by Francesca Nerilli, Hadi Monsef Ahmadi, Stefania Imperatore and Giuseppe Vairo
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(3), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10030131 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 658
Abstract
This study investigates the bond–slip behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in concrete and exposed to alkaline environments at different temperatures. Although GFRP reinforcement is increasingly adopted for its corrosion resistance, the long-term bond performance of the bar–concrete interface in high-pH [...] Read more.
This study investigates the bond–slip behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in concrete and exposed to alkaline environments at different temperatures. Although GFRP reinforcement is increasingly adopted for its corrosion resistance, the long-term bond performance of the bar–concrete interface in high-pH conditions is still not fully understood. To help close this gap, a comprehensive database of 84 pull-out tests from the literature was assembled, focusing on three key parameters: bar surface configuration, exposure duration, and conditioning temperature. The comparative analysis highlights the dominant role of surface treatment in bond degradation and reveals substantial variability across existing results. To complement the literature review, additional pull-out tests were carried out on sand-coated GFRP bars conditioned in an alkaline solution (pH = 12) for 1.5 months at ambient temperature and at 60 °C. These tests showed average reductions in bond strength of approximately 28% and 32%, respectively, compared with unconditioned specimens, together with marked changes in the post-peak portion of the bond–slip response. An analytical formulation was also applied, not as a novel bond–slip law but as a consistent mechanical framework to interpret durability-induced degradation effects, to describe the local interface shear stress–slip law, and to assess the resulting stress and slip distributions along the bonded length. Overall, the combined experimental and analytical findings emphasize the need to account for environmentally induced degradation when evaluating durability and defining design criteria for GFRP-reinforced concrete structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference Steel and Composites for Engineering Structures (4thICSCES))
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