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Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2515

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wensheng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Transportation, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: road materials and pavement design; nondestructive testing technology; structural health monitoring; bridge and infrastructure engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ping Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
Interests: polymers fiber; fiber reinforced soil; damage model; interface of fiber-soil; dynamic performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yiming Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150038, China
Interests: asphalt pavement; biomass materials; cracking; durability; numerical simulation; performance characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Roads, bridges, airports, and ports are multirole transportation infrastructure assets, which rely heavily on asphalt, cement, and aggregates in traditional civil engineering. Multirole transportation infrastructures should be resistant against structural loads and vehicle loads. Further, multirole transportation infrastructures are greatly affected by climate change, which has the potential to impact both long- and short-term infrastructure performance. Recent developments in materials science, especially polymers, have brought new perspectives in the modification of civil engineering materials and consequent improvements. Being both strong and lightweight, polymer composites have already found wide-ranging uses in civil engineering. The application of various types of polymers includes admixtures and additives (e.g., alternative binders, polymer fibers) for enhanced mechanical performances and functional properties, such as self-healing and self-cleaning abilities. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze advanced functional polymer composites sitting at the intersection of physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. This Special Issue is concerned with the possible applications of polymeric composites to develop new technologies in road and bridge engineering. We are particularly interested in current and future research on characterization techniques, evaluation tools, and the production of advanced functional polymer composites.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Recycling and resource recovery to transform polymers into green building materials;
  • Advanced functional polymer composites for sustainable civil engineering;
  • Multifunctional civil engineering materials for bio-based polymeric applications;
  • Modification of cement/asphalt-based composition with polymers;
  • Characterization of polymer–concrete composites in construction;
  • Experimental testing and constitutive modeling of polymeric pavement materials;
  • Rheological behavior and mechanics analysis of polymer matrix composites.

Dr. Wensheng Wang
Dr. Ping Jiang
Dr. Yiming Li
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. 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

  • functional polymers
  • polymers recycling and reuse
  • building materials
  • fiber-reinforced composites
  • phase-change materials
  • modification of road materials with polymers
  • self-healing
  • anti-aging
  • mechanical performance
  • nondestructive assessment and health monitoring
  • sustainable development

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 7561 KiB  
Article
Mechanism of Strain-Resistance Response of CNT/Polymer Composite Materials for Pavement Strain Self-Sensing Based on the Molecular Dynamics Simulation Method
by Xue Xin, Xingchi Zhao, Jing Gao, Zhanyong Yao and Yunzhen Li
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111427 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 297
Abstract
Embedded and real-time monitoring of pavement mechanical state changes based on the strain detected by self-sensing sensors of polymer/conductive composites is a new way for pavement health monitoring. Strain monitoring, using polymer-based composite mechanosensitive materials, requires the formation of effective conductive networks and [...] Read more.
Embedded and real-time monitoring of pavement mechanical state changes based on the strain detected by self-sensing sensors of polymer/conductive composites is a new way for pavement health monitoring. Strain monitoring, using polymer-based composite mechanosensitive materials, requires the formation of effective conductive networks and conductive channels within the composite material so that the mechanosensitive material is electrically conductive at the macroscopic level. However, the deformation of the pavement structure is much smaller in magnitude, which is about hundreds or even tens of microstrains (10−6). Therefore, it is especially important to study the strain self-sensing mechanism of conductive composites at the με level. Micro- and nanostructured polymer composites have a complex structure with multiple layers, scales, and interactions, and thus present many difficulties when studying their microscopic conductive mechanisms. In this paper, the all-atom system of the micro-nanostructured composite mechanosensitive materials model was proposed with the help of molecular dynamics simulations. This achieved a breakthrough and realized the systematic study of the microscopic level of the relevant parameters of the composite’s conductivity from the molecular point of view to construct a relationship between the microscopic parameters, conductive network, and conductivity. The kinetic models of the micro-nanostructure and resin interface based on the molecular dynamics simulation technology were constructed to explore the dispersion state of the conductive filler, the interfacial interactions between the conductive filler and epoxy resin matrix, and the structural changes in the conductive network within the system under the tension state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition)
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26 pages, 21510 KiB  
Article
The Study on the Effect of Waterborne Epoxy Resin Content on the Performance of Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Modified Micro-Surface Mixture
by Lihua Zhao, Wenhe Li, Chunyu Zhang, Xinping Yu, Anhao Liu and Jianzhe Huang
Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091175 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
Conventional micro-surfacing materials often delaminate, crack, or peel. These defects shorten pavement life. High-performance polymer-modified mixtures are essential for rapid pavement maintenance. We added waterborne epoxy resin (WER) at different dosages to styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) to create a composite-modified micro-surfacing mixture. A series [...] Read more.
Conventional micro-surfacing materials often delaminate, crack, or peel. These defects shorten pavement life. High-performance polymer-modified mixtures are essential for rapid pavement maintenance. We added waterborne epoxy resin (WER) at different dosages to styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) to create a composite-modified micro-surfacing mixture. A series of laboratory comparative tests were conducted to investigate the effect of WER content on the overall performance of the WER-SBR micro-surfacing mixture. In addition, the microstructure of the mixtures was observed to analyze the mechanism by which the composite-modified emulsified asphalt enhances material performance, and the optimal WER dosage was determined. The results showed that higher WER content improved abrasion and rutting resistance but gains plateaued above 6% WER. Below 9% WER, mixtures showed good water stability; at 3–6% WER, they also maintained skid and low-temperature crack resistance. Notably, when the WER content was approximately 6%, the WER-SBR micro-surfacing mixture showed significantly reduced abrasion damage after exposure to freeze–thaw cycles, moisture, and salt spray conditions. SEM images confirmed that 6% WER creates a uniform asphalt film over aggregates, boosting mixture performance. Therefore, we recommend 6% WER. This study has developed a WER-SBR composite-modified emulsified asphalt micro-surfacing product with excellent overall performance. It holds significant practical value for extending pavement service life and improving road service quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 20703 KiB  
Article
Performance Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Corroded Rebar Strengthened by Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
by Sangwoo Kim, Wonchang Choi and Jinsup Kim
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081021 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 503
Abstract
The inefficiency of unreinforced concrete beams as flexural members poses a challenge because concrete’s tensile strength is significantly lower than its compressive strength. In response to this challenge, reinforcement bars are commonly employed near the tension zone of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Nonetheless, [...] Read more.
The inefficiency of unreinforced concrete beams as flexural members poses a challenge because concrete’s tensile strength is significantly lower than its compressive strength. In response to this challenge, reinforcement bars are commonly employed near the tension zone of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Nonetheless, structures constructed with RC face challenges such as reduced live load capacity, concrete deterioration, and the corrosion of reinforcement bars over time. To address this, ongoing research is exploring maintenance and retrofitting techniques using high-strength, lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). In this study, the flexural performance of corroded RC beams was enhanced through retrofitting with CFRP plates and sheets. The corroded RC beams were fabricated using an applied-current method with a 5% NaCl solution to induce a 10% target corrosion level under controlled laboratory conditions. Flexural tests were conducted to evaluate the structural performance, failure modes, load–displacement relationships, and energy dissipation capacities. The results showed that CFRP reinforcement mitigates the adverse effects of corrosion-induced reduction in rebar cross-sectional areas, leading to increased stiffness and improved load-carrying capacity. In particular, CFRP reinforcement increased the yield load by up to 36.5% and the peak load by up to 90% in corroded specimens. The accumulated energy dissipation capacity also increased by 92%. These enhancements are attributed to the effective load-sharing behavior between the corroded rebar and the CFRP reinforcement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 7353 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Thermal Resistance and Mechanical Performance of Methyl Methacrylate-Based Pavement Coatings for Urban Heat Mitigation
by Kwan Kyu Kim, Yoon-Sang Choi, Hee Jun Lee, Shanelle Aira Rodrigazo and Jaeheum Yeon
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050586 - 23 Feb 2025
Viewed by 885
Abstract
The urban heat island effect raises road surface temperatures, increasing energy demands and accelerating pavement deterioration. This study evaluates a polymer-based pavement system using methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin with aluminum silicate (AS), glass bubbles (GBs), and microencapsulated n-docosane phase-change material (PCM) to identify [...] Read more.
The urban heat island effect raises road surface temperatures, increasing energy demands and accelerating pavement deterioration. This study evaluates a polymer-based pavement system using methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin with aluminum silicate (AS), glass bubbles (GBs), and microencapsulated n-docosane phase-change material (PCM) to identify the most effective solution. Indoor laboratory tests determined AS as the optimal choice, balancing thermal insulation, workability, and mechanical strength. AS-containing mixtures reduced surface temperatures by ~10 °C and exhibited superior compressive strength (28.2 MPa at 6 wt%) compared to GB (23.7 MPa at 4 wt%) and PCM (27.2 MPa at 6 wt%). AS also maintained stable viscosity at ≤10 wt%, unlike GB and PCM, which became unworkable above 5 wt%. The AS-based system achieved high skid resistance (90.2 BPN), abrasion resistance (0.1% wear after 500,000 cycles), and low VOC emissions (69.64 g/L). Adjusting the resin-to-BPO ratio to 1:0.42 enabled a 30 min curing time at 25 °C, ensuring practical application. These findings highlight AS as the most effective filler for large-scale deployment. Future work should assess long-term durability and optimize formulations for broader adoption in heat-mitigating infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition)
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Review

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29 pages, 5912 KiB  
Review
Mechanical Performance of Asphalt Materials Under Salt Erosion Environments: A Literature Review
by Wensheng Wang, Qingyu Zhang, Jiaxiang Liang, Yongchun Cheng and Weidong Jin
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081078 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Asphalt pavements are subjected to both repeated vehicle loads and erosive deterioration from complicated environments in service. Salt erosion exerts a serious negative impact on the service performance of asphalt pavements in salt-rich areas such as seasonal frozen areas with snow melting and [...] Read more.
Asphalt pavements are subjected to both repeated vehicle loads and erosive deterioration from complicated environments in service. Salt erosion exerts a serious negative impact on the service performance of asphalt pavements in salt-rich areas such as seasonal frozen areas with snow melting and deicing, coastal areas, and saline soils areas. In recent years, the performance evolution of asphalt materials under salt erosion environments has been widely investigated. However, there is a lack of a systematic summary of salt erosion damage for asphalt materials from a multi-scale perspective. The objective in this paper is to review the performance evolution and the damage mechanism of asphalt mixtures and binders under salt erosion environments from a multi-scale perspective. The salt erosion damage and damage mechanism of asphalt mixtures is discussed. The influence of salt categories and erosion modes on the asphalt binder is classified. The salt erosion resistance of different asphalt binders is determined. In addition, the application of microscopic test methods to investigate the salt damage mechanism of asphalt binders is generalized. This review finds that the pavement performance of asphalt mixtures decreased significantly after salt erosion. A good explanation for the salt erosion mechanism of asphalt mixtures can be provided from the perspective of pores, interface adhesion, and asphalt mortar. Salt categories and erosion modes exerted great influences on the rheological performance of asphalt binders. The performance of different asphalt binders showed a remarkable diversity under salt erosion environments. In addition, the evolution of the chemical composition and microscopic morphology of asphalt binders under salt erosion environments can be well characterized by Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and microscopic tests. Finally, the major focus of future research and the challenges that may be encountered are discussed. From this literature review, pore expansion mechanisms differ fundamentally between conventional and salt storage asphalt mixtures. Sulfate ions exhibit stronger erosive effects than chlorides due to their chemical reactivity with asphalt components. Molecular-scale analyses confirm that salt solutions accelerate asphalt aging through light-component depletion and heavy-component accumulation. These collective findings from prior studies establish critical theoretical foundations for designing durable pavements in saline environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Composites in Road and Bridge Engineering: Characterization, Production and Application, 3rd Edition)
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