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Polymers
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New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
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New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1780

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Peng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Envienronmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Interests: high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete; sustained and green concrete; durability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and Seawater Sea-sand Concrete (SSC); static and seismic performance of High-speed Railway Bridge (HRB)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lijie Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: bond strength of FRP composites; durability of FRP-reinforced concrete; low-carbon concrete
Dr. Xingquan Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: advanced composites; durability; functionalized construction materials; computational mechanics; multiscale method
Prof. Dr. Weiwen Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Interests: Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs); Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECCs); strengthening and repair of concrete structures; durability of concrete structures; recycling of municipal solid waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Haoliang Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Interests: Engineered/Strain-hardening Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC), geo-environmental and low-carbon materials; engineered environmental barriers; sustainable geomaterials; life cycle assessment
Dr. Mingfeng Kai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Humg Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: atomistic/nanoscale simulation of green concrete; geopolymer concrete; waste materials used in concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the research and development of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) have attracted worldwide attention, particularly in the field of marine infrastructures. Despite the comparable or even superior merits of FRPs in comparison to steel materials, the fundamental research and practical application of FRP composites remain relatively scarce. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the use of FRPs in practical structural and infrastructural engineering, with the potential to advance construction technology, enhance structural performance and improve structural longevity. To further promote the widespread application of FRP composite structures towards durable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures, it is imperative to undertake more collaborative efforts. Accordingly, we welcome submissions for a Special Issue entitled “New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites”, to be published in Polymers. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers to share their latest findings, engage in scholarly discourse and the exchange of ideas, and advance our knowledge and understanding of FRPs. This Special Issue also serves as an opportunity for readers to gain a comprehensive overview of up-to-date research developments. Overall, this Special Issue is anticipated to contribute to the advancement of the field, stimulate further research, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

Scope and information for Authors

Researchers in the field of FRPs are encouraged to submit their work in the form of original research and review articles on the following topics:

  • Recent advances in the design, manufacture and application of FRP composite structures;
  • Novel design of sustainable FRPs with environmentally friendly fibers;
  • Experimental and numerical investigation on the fracture behavior of FRPs;
  • Bond behaviors between FRP composites and sustainable concrete, such as geopolymer, biochar and LC3;
  • Hybrid FRP–concrete and other structures;
  • Multi-scale models for FRP composite structures;
  • Microstructural analysis of fibers, polymers and th efiber–polymer interface;
  • High performance, longevity, and sustainability of FRP composite structures;
  • Health monitoring and inspection methods for FRP composite structures;
  • Advanced numerical simulations for FRP composite structures;
  • Computational methods for evaluating FRP composite structures;
  • Static and dynamic mechanical properties of FRP composite structures;
  • Fatigue and seismic performance of FRP composite structures;
  • Application of FRP composite structures in offshore engineering;
  • Structural applications in repair and retrofitting areas and newly constructed infrastructural fields;
  • Design codes and guidelines.

Dr. Peng Wang
Dr. Lijie Chen
Dr. Xingquan Wang
Prof. Dr. Weiwen Li
Dr. Haoliang Wu
Dr. Mingfeng Kai
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

  • fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)
  • design and manufacture
  • mechanical properties
  • long-term durability
  • health monitoring
  • multi-scale modeling
  • engineering practice

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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

17 pages, 5464 KiB  
Article
Bonding Properties of Embedded Fiber Reinforced Polymer Strip-Engineered Cementitious Composite Joints
by Weiwen Li, Wujun Fang, Yao Lu, Wanye Li, Jingming Yang, Hao Wang, Peng Wang, Yaocheng Wang and Hongzhi Cui
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081049 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 177
Abstract
The combination of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and engineered cementitious composite (ECC) has emerged as a promising method for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures. By embedding FRP within an ECC to form a composite reinforcement layer, the advantages of both materials can be [...] Read more.
The combination of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and engineered cementitious composite (ECC) has emerged as a promising method for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures. By embedding FRP within an ECC to form a composite reinforcement layer, the advantages of both materials can be effectively harnessed, and the dense ECC matrix can be employed to safeguard FRP from adverse environments. Significantly, the interface bonding property constitutes the key for the two materials to collaborate effectively. In light of the research gap related to the bonding performance of embedded FRP strips in ECC joints, this study conducted a bench-scale investigation into the pull-out behavior of carbon FRP (CFRP) strips within an ECC. The relationship between the average bonding strength (2.84 MPa~4.77 MPa) and the embedded length of FRP strips was established. Additionally, the pull-out mechanism of FRP strips within an ECC matrix was utilized to elucidate the influence of the embedded length on the distinct behavior of FRP strips within an ECC. An analytical method for predicting the full-range behavior of embedded FRP strip–ECC joints by using a trilinear bond–slip relationship was introduced. Four key parameters of the trilinear bond–slip relationship for embedded FRP strip–ECC joints were provided to meet the requirements of future engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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25 pages, 12526 KiB  
Article
Innovative Approaches to RC Deep Beam Strengthening: Evaluating Low-Cost Glass Fiber Wraps Against Traditional CFRP Solutions
by Panumas Saingam, Ali Ejaz, Chaitanya Krishna Gadagamma, Qudeer Hussain, Gritsada Sua-iam, Burachat Chatveera, Bodee Maneengamlert and Panuwat Joyklad
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060807 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 352
Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of lightweight aggregate deep beams strengthened with low-cost glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite (Lo-G) wraps as an alternative to expensive synthetic fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). The investigation includes side-bonded and fully wrapped configurations of Lo-G wraps, alongside carbon FRP (CFRP) [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the performance of lightweight aggregate deep beams strengthened with low-cost glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite (Lo-G) wraps as an alternative to expensive synthetic fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). The investigation includes side-bonded and fully wrapped configurations of Lo-G wraps, alongside carbon FRP (CFRP) strips for comparison. The experimental results show that epoxy-based anchors provided significantly better resistance against de-bonding than mechanical anchors, improving beam performance. Strengthening with Lo-G wraps resulted in a peak capacity increase of 17.0% to 46.9% for side-bonded beams in Group 2, 10.5% to 41.4% for fully wrapped beams in the strip configuration in Group 3, and 15.4% to 42.7% for CFRP strips in Group 4. The ultimate deflection and dissipated energy were also improved, with dissipated energy increases of up to 264.6%, 322.3%, and 222.7% for side-bonded and fully wrapped Lo-G wraps and CFRP strips, respectively. The side-bonded configuration with two or three Lo-G wraps, supplemented by epoxy wraps, outperformed fully wrapped 250 mm strips in peak capacity, with peak capacity improvements of up to 46.9%. However, beams with mechanical anchors showed poor performance due to premature debonding. They rely on friction and expansion within the concrete to resist pull-out forces. If the surrounding concrete is not strong enough or if the anchor is not properly installed, it can lead to failure. Additionally, reducing strip spacing negatively impacted performance. Lo-G wraps showed an 8.5% higher peak capacity and 32.8% greater dissipated energy compared to CFRP strips. Despite these improvements, while Lo-G wraps are a cost-effective alternative, their long-term performance remains to be investigated. None of the existing models accurately predicted the shear strength contribution of Lo-G wraps, as the lower elastic modulus and tensile strength led to high deviations in prediction-to-experimental ratios, underscoring the need for new models to assess shear strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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18 pages, 89424 KiB  
Article
Deterioration Behavior of Concrete Beam Reinforced with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Rebar Exposed to Carbonation and Chloride Conditions
by Seung-Yun Lee, Sun-Hee Kim and Wonchang Choi
Polymers 2025, 17(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17010055 - 29 Dec 2024
Viewed by 728
Abstract
The absence of carbon fiber-reinforced rebar performance standards in Korea has limited its reliability. This study investigates the durability performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar as an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete structures. Concrete beams reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar [...] Read more.
The absence of carbon fiber-reinforced rebar performance standards in Korea has limited its reliability. This study investigates the durability performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar as an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete structures. Concrete beams reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar were exposed to chloride environments for durations of 35 and 70 days and then subjected to bending tests to evaluate their durability. The results demonstrate that the strong bond between the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and concrete effectively prevented brittle fracture, even under exposure to harsh chloride. A scanning electron microscope analysis of the specimens exposed to chloride showed no deterioration of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar, highlighting its exceptional resistance to corrosion. Furthermore, durability tests were conducted in a carbonation chamber for 8 and 12 weeks, with no signs of degradation in the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar. These findings suggest that carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar offers excellent resistance to both chloride-induced corrosion and carbonation, making it a promising solution to enhance the longevity and durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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