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Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Polymers for Construction: Properties and Application

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 861

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Turkey
Interests: fiber-reinforced polymers; eco-friendly/sustainable construction materials; roller-compacted concrete (RCC); artificial neural networks/optimization methods in concrete mix design

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Turkey
Interests: chemistry; polymers; mechanics of polymers

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Interests: fiber reinforced polymers; concrete; structural composites; cement; sustainable construction materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and related composite materials for construction applications, and it emphasizes the interplay between components, manufacturing processes, and multi-scale phenomena in structural systems. Contributions are sought that describe the relationship between components, characteristics, and performance across scales, from the micro-scale of fibers to the macro-scale of structures, and their implications for enhanced durability, strength, stiffness, and resilience under service conditions, because relevant topics include novel fiber types and surface treatments, the development of strong matrices and environmentally-friendly resins, interface optimization and hybridization, innovative manufacturing techniques such as automated fiber placement, pultrusion, and additive manufacturing, and intelligent testing, sensing, and digital modeling for lifecycle assessment. Of particular interest is the long-term behavior of FRPs and composite components subjected to combined loading and environmental actions, including creep, fatigue, hygrothermal aging, photodegradation, freeze–thaw, alkali attack, and chloride ingress in marine and pavement structures; thus, papers on design guidelines, performance-based standards, fire and elevated temperature response, retrofit of existing infrastructure, and application of FRPs in sustainable, low-carbon construction, such as recycling and end-of-life strategies, are also encouraged. Both experimental and computational studies are welcome, particularly those that link microscale mechanics and mesoscale models to component and system-level outcomes, along with case studies demonstrating field testing and applied implementation, and therefore, they are highly relevant to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Sadik Alper Yildizel
Prof. Dr. Buket Bezgin Çarbaş
Dr. Gökhan Kaplan
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. 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

  • fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs)
  • structural composites
  • durability and service life
  • composite interfaces and hybrid composites
  • advanced manufacturing of composite structures
  • fire and elevated temperature performance
  • repair, retrofitting, and rehabilitation
  • sustainability
  • LCA
  • recycling of composites

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 5415 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Shear Performance of Integrated GFRP Stirrup Systems in Reinforced Concrete Beams
by Saruhan Kartal, Uğur Gündoğan, İlker Kalkan, Turki S. Alahmari, Abderrahim Lakhouit and Akin Duvan
Polymers 2026, 18(8), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080921 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 329
Abstract
This study investigates the shear behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced concrete (RC) beams to address challenges associated with their low elastic modulus, absence of yielding, and reduced stirrup efficiency in bending regions. GFRP bars are increasingly adopted as an alternative to steel [...] Read more.
This study investigates the shear behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced concrete (RC) beams to address challenges associated with their low elastic modulus, absence of yielding, and reduced stirrup efficiency in bending regions. GFRP bars are increasingly adopted as an alternative to steel due to their superior corrosion resistance, durability, and cost-effectiveness. This study focuses on the effects of stirrup type, stirrup spacing, and shear span-to-effective depth ratio on the structural performance of GFRP RC beams. Twelve full-scale beams were tested under four-point bending, incorporating three GFRP shear reinforcement configurations: fabricated closed stirrups, integrated straight bar systems, and discrete vertical bars. Experimental observations were analyzed in terms of failure modes, load-carrying capacity, energy absorption, and deformation characteristics. Results indicate that fabricated F-type stirrups provide the highest shear performance, though their effectiveness is limited by premature rupture at bending points. Site-integrated S- and T-type configurations offer practical alternatives, maintaining structural integrity while mitigating bend-related stress concentrations, but with slightly lower energy absorption and load capacity. Increasing stirrup spacing significantly reduces shear resistance and shifts failure from flexural to shear-dominated modes. Comparisons with widely used design codes and analytical models show that CSA S806-12 provisions offer the most reliable predictions, while other guidelines tend to over- or underestimate shear capacity depending on configuration and a/d ratio. The study highlights the importance of optimizing stirrup type and spacing to enhance the shear performance of GFRP RC beams. Findings provide valuable insights for improving current design methodologies, offering guidance for engineers seeking durable, corrosion-resistant alternatives to steel reinforcement in aggressive environments. This research demonstrates that innovative site-integrated stirrup configurations can bridge practical fabrication constraints without compromising overall shear performance, promoting more efficient and resilient GFRP RC structures. Full article
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