Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Polymers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5085

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Razvan Udroiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29 Eroilor Boulevard, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Interests: additive manufacturing; polymer and composite materials; CAD/CAM technologies; advanced manufacturing processes; quality analysis of additively manufactured parts; surface quality and performance of polymer components; rapid prototyping technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Paul Bere

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Machine Building, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Memorandumului 28, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: composite materials; fiber-reinforced polymer; mechanical behavior; structure analyses; application of FRP; morphology analyses; additive manufacturing; structure reparation; green composites; prototyping methods; motorsport application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Dan Serban

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Politehnica University Timișoara, 300222 Timișoara, Romania
Interests: polymers; materials; mechanical properties; polymeric materials; material characterization; advanced materials; fracture mechanics; plasticity tensile testing; elasticity; nonlinear analysis; dynamic simulation; materials engineering; viscoelasticity; polymer composites; polyurethane; micromechanics; mechanics DMA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) have seen rapid and continuous development across industrial sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial goods. The formulation and interaction of fibers and polymers are critical to achieving composites with superior mechanical properties. As applications diversify, tailored manufacturing processes must be developed for each component. While automation has reduced production time and costs, machining FRPs remains challenging due to their anisotropic and non-homogeneous structures.

Currently, the FRP industry is increasingly focused on innovative and sustainable manufacturing techniques. Emerging trends include eco-friendly production methods, additive manufacturing, and AI/ML-driven process optimization, alongside growing emphasis on recycling and circular economy principles. These advancements aim to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and unlock new functionalities in smart composites.

This Special Issue invites original research on the manufacturing, machining, characterization, and applications of FRP composites, with particular focus on the following:

Sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques;
Smart composites with embedded functionalities;
AI/ML-driven process optimization;
Recycling and circular economy approaches;
Additive manufacturing of FRPs.

We welcome experimental, numerical, and theoretical studies that address these cutting-edge developments, offering insights into the future of FRP technologies.

Dr. Razvan Udroiu
Prof. Dr. Paul Bere
Prof. Dr. Dan Serban
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers 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 2700 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

sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing of FRPs
additive manufacturing of FRPs
smart FRP composites
artificial intelligence-driven FRP process optimization
machine learning-driven FRP process optimization
recycling of FRPs
circular economy approaches to FRPs

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

25 pages, 4045 KB

Open AccessArticle

Generalized Strength Prediction Model for Timber Beams Strengthened Using NSM FRP Bars and FRP Sheets

by Husain Abbas, Nadeem A. Siddiqui, Mohammed S. Shaik, Tarek Almusallam and Yousef Al-Salloum

Polymers 2026, 18(14), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18141705 - 10 Jul 2026

Abstract

Existing analytical models for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-strengthened timber beams are generally limited to individual strengthening techniques and cannot readily accommodate hybrid reinforcement systems. This study develops a generalized analytical model to predict the flexural capacity of timber beams strengthened with near-surface-mounted (NSM) FRP bars, externally bonded FRP sheets, or their hybrid combination within a unified theoretical framework. The model is formulated based on internal force equilibrium and strain compatibility, incorporating a constitutive model for timber with linear elastic tensile behavior and a bilinear compressive stress–strain relationship including post-peak softening. The generalized formulation can be readily adapted to different strengthening configurations through appropriate simplifications. The proposed model was validated against experimental results obtained from four-point bending tests on small-scale timber beams strengthened with NSM GFRP bars and externally bonded GFRP sheets. The analytical predictions showed good agreement with the experimental results, with differences generally ranging from 2% to 23%, demonstrating satisfactory predictive accuracy. The experimental results further showed that the hybrid strengthening system increased the flexural capacity of the timber beams by up to 84% compared with the unstrengthened control beams, while also improving stiffness, ductility, and overall structural response. Failure was primarily due to timber tensile rupture and longitudinal splitting, whereas the GFRP reinforcement remained effective without rupture, indicating efficient utilization of the strengthening system. The proposed generalized analytical model provides a practical and reliable design tool for predicting the flexural strength of timber beams strengthened with various FRP reinforcement configurations, thereby supporting the structural rehabilitation and sustainable retrofitting of timber structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)

25 pages, 10872 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Core Configuration on the Flexural Behavior of Lightweight CFRP Sandwich Panels in Drone Design

by Mihai Parparita, Paul Bere, Razvan Udroiu and Mircea Cristian Dudescu

Polymers 2026, 18(14), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18141682 - 8 Jul 2026

Viewed by 167

Abstract

Sandwich structures have gained much interest in drone manufacturing structures based on their lightweight design and excellent mechanical characteristics. In this work, a new solution for lightweight drone wing structures consisting of a thin sandwich skin, a main spar, and ribs was proposed. Seven sandwich structures based on prepreg-based CFRP skins and different cores were proposed for the wing drone sandwich skin. Thus, sandwiches with different chemical configurations and densities, such as ROHACELL 51, AIREX T92.100, balsa, AIREX R82.150, AIREX C71.75, NOMEX ECA-I, and Soric XF, were autoclave-manufactured and investigated. All the samples were tested under three-point bending. Also, microscopic analysis of the fracture zones was performed to establish a direct link between macroscopic flexural behavior and local failure mechanisms. A statistical analysis based on ANOVA with Box–Cox transformation followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference test was performed for flexural strength and flexural modulus. The results show that the sandwiches containing Soric XF foam with 62.5 kg/m³ density had the best mechanical properties, with a 71.66 MPa flexural strength and a 10,039 MPa flexural modulus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 6909 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Fiber Orientation Effects in Biaxial Glass/Vinyl Ester Laminates

by Sultan Ullah, Arvydas Palevicius, Almontas Vilutis, Raul Fangueiro and Giedrius Janusas

Polymers 2026, 18(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020265 - 19 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1000

Abstract

This study analyzes the mechanical behavior of a quasi-isotropic biaxial glass fiber–vinyl ester composite in a multiaxial stress condition and the effect of the orientation of the fibers. A ply structure was created through the process of vacuum infusion using six layers of biaxial fabric that were oriented to 15°. Tensile samples were isolated at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 90 degrees relative to the warp direction. It was found that strength and stiffness strongly depend on orientation, with maximum tensile strengths of 157.2 MPa at 90° and 125 MPa at 0°, and minimum tensile strengths 59.6 MPa at 15°, showing fiber and shear failures, respectively. MAT_124 underwent finite element analysis in LS-DYNA, and the results were excellent, with a difference of less than 1.5%. Three-point bending and Charpy impact tests indicated that flexural properties were lower at 15° and 90°, whereas off-axis orientations were generally better at impact energy absorption, although at 45°, binding sites were few and far between. The results have important implications for the design of laminates subjected to complicated loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 12288 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation of Four-Point Bending Test Results of GFRP and CFRP Composites Used in Wind Turbine Blades

by Senai Yalçinkaya, Mehmet Fatih Yoldaş and Dudu Mertgenç Yoldaş

Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2412; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172412 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

The depletion of fossil fuels and the rise of environmental concerns have increased the importance of renewable energy sources, positioning wind energy as a key alternative. Modern wind turbine blades are predominantly manufactured from composite materials due to their light weight, high strength, and resistance to corrosion. In offshore applications, approximately 95% of the composite content is glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), while the remaining 5% is carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). GFRP is favored for its low cost and fatigue resistance, whereas CFRP offers superior strength and stiffness but is limited by high production costs. This study investigates the durability of adhesively bonded GFRP and CFRP joints under marine exposure. Seven-layer GFRP and eight-layer CFRP laminates were produced using a 90° unidirectional twill weave and prepared in accordance with ASTM D5868-01. Specimens were immersed in natural Aegean Sea water (21 °C, salinity 3.3–3.7%) for 1, 2, and 3 months. Measurements revealed that GFRP absorbed significantly more moisture (1.02%, 2.97%, 3.78%) than CFRP (0.49%, 0.76%, 0.91%). Four-point bending tests conducted according to ASTM D790 showed reductions in Young’s modulus of up to 9.45% for GFRP and 3.48% for CFRP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that moisture-induced degradation was more severe in GFRP joints compared to CFRP. These findings highlight the critical role of environmental exposure in the mechanical performance of marine composite joints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Manufacturing and Multifunctional Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI