About this Research Topic
Although primarily used in the industrial sector due to their corrosion resistance characteristics, pultruded FRP profiles are increasingly gaining interest in structural applications as alternatives to traditional steel elements, such as wide flange and channel sections, tubular and I-profiles.
The low specific weight of FRP, compared to traditional materials such as steel and concrete, allows for the creation of light profiles that are easy to handle and work with on-site using standard tools. Additionally, the high strength-to-weight ratio makes them an excellent choice compared to traditional materials, as the longitudinal tensile strength values are comparable to or higher than those of structural steel, with the advantage of being much lighter.
Choosing FRP over steel reduces resource use, energy consumption, and emissions due to its lightweight nature and durability. FRP’s lower maintenance needs and longer lifespan further enhance sustainability, though recyclability remains challenging.
Despite their sustainability advantages over steel counterparts, the design of FRP frame structures is still limited by the onset of local instability, which significantly underutilizes their potential capacity. Another issue with FRP frame structures is the design of connections between structural elements, which is affected by the low pin-bearing strength of the pultruded FRP material.
Among various possible solutions, the design optimization of FRP frame structures can be achieved by investigating new cross-section geometries for pultruded profiles and more effective ways to connect structural parts, such as using adhesively bonded connections.
The Research Topic welcomes original research articles, case studies, and literature reviews on the use of pultruded FRP profiles for the execution of frame structures. Contributions to this Research Topic refer, but not limited, to the following themes :
-Static and fatigue behavior;
-Design aspects;
-Durability and long-term behavior;
-Connections between structural elements;
-Connections with the ground;
-Seismic behavior;
-Lateral stability;
-Global and Local buckling.
All papers will be investigated from the analytical, numerical, and experimental points of view.
The low specific weight of FRP, compared to traditional materials such as steel and concrete, allows for the creation of light profiles that are easy to handle and work with on-site using standard tools. Additionally, the high strength-to-weight ratio makes them an excellent choice compared to traditional materials, as the longitudinal tensile strength values are comparable to or higher than those of structural steel, with the advantage of being much lighter.
Choosing FRP over steel reduces resource use, energy consumption, and emissions due to its lightweight nature and durability. FRP’s lower maintenance needs and longer lifespan further enhance sustainability, though recyclability remains challenging.
Despite their sustainability advantages over steel counterparts, the design of FRP frame structures is still limited by the onset of local instability, which significantly underutilizes their potential capacity. Another issue with FRP frame structures is the design of connections between structural elements, which is affected by the low pin-bearing strength of the pultruded FRP material.
Among various possible solutions, the design optimization of FRP frame structures can be achieved by investigating new cross-section geometries for pultruded profiles and more effective ways to connect structural parts, such as using adhesively bonded connections.
The Research Topic welcomes original research articles, case studies, and literature reviews on the use of pultruded FRP profiles for the execution of frame structures. Contributions to this Research Topic refer, but not limited, to the following themes :
-Static and fatigue behavior;
-Design aspects;
-Durability and long-term behavior;
-Connections between structural elements;
-Connections with the ground;
-Seismic behavior;
-Lateral stability;
-Global and Local buckling.
All papers will be investigated from the analytical, numerical, and experimental points of view.
Keywords: FRP; GFRP; CFRP; Pultrusion; Frame structure; Structure; I Beam; I profile; C profile; T profile; Wide flange; Channel section; Tube; Hollow section; Tubular profile; Structural connections; Bolted; Bonded connection; Cuff joint; Sleeve joint;
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
