Abstract
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been around for many years and emerged over the past two decades as practical materials for civil engineering applications. The wide utilization of FRPs has increased significantly in recent years offering us new ways, both for strengthening of existing structures and for new construction. The rapid increase in the use of FRP composites in civil engineering can be attributed to continuing reductions in material costs, more comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental properties of composites, which has enabled more realistic, reduced safety factors, and to the numerous advantages of FRPs as compared with conventional materials such as concrete and steel.
This Special Issue contains eight selected papers from the 7th International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2014) held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from 20 to 22 August 2014. The CICE is the official conference of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC). The success of the previous CICE conferences (Hong Kong, 2001; Adelaide, 2004; Miami, 2006; Zurich, 2008; Beijing, 2010; and Rome, 2012) has established this event as an international forum for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and future perspectives in the use of FRP composites in civil engineering. A total of 255 peer-reviewed papers were accepted and included in the CICE 2014 conference proceedings. The papers have been authored by international leading experts in the field from 30 different countries around the world. Selective papers were recommended through the CICE review process by the International Scientific Committee of the Conference to be expanded for a possible publication in this Special Issue. The selected papers for this Special Issue are on different aspects related to FRP internal reinforcement, FRP strengthening, hybrid and stay-in-place FRP structures, and durability performance. These papers have been carefully chosen and were given serious consideration and peer reviewed by internationally recognized experts in the field prior to acceptance as the peer review is a very important part in publishing quality papers.
The editor of this Special Issue is grateful to the authors for their valuable contribution and preparation of the extend papers which will undoubtedly serve as a useful reference to practitioners, researchers, students and academics, and allied disciplines. Special thanks are to the reviewers for providing high-quality and timely reviews and whose input and advice have been contributing factors to the success of this Special Issue. I would also like to thank Professor Jin-Guang Teng, the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Advances in Structural Engineering, for the agreement to publish this Special Issue.