The paper “GFRP Beam-to-Column Connections using Stainless Steel Cleats”, by Técnico researchers, was awarded at the 10th International Conference on Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2020/2021), last December. The research work by David Martins (PhD student), José Gonilha and João Ramôa Correia, (professors at IST Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources – DECivil) and Nuno Silvestre (professor at IST Department of Mechanical Engineering – DEM), won the Best Paper Award in the “FRP in New Construction” category.
216 papers were presented at CICE 2021/2021 – half of which were submitted in the “FRP in New Construction” category and the rest in the “FRP Strengthening of Existing Structures” category – held online, on December, from Istanbul.
“The application of GFRP profiles in the construction is relatively recent and the GFRP connection technology is poorly developed”, says the Técnico PhD student David Martins, and the 1st author of the paper. “The main contribution of this work was the development of GFRP connections with improved performance using stainless steel. In addition, analytical and numerical methodologies capable of accurately predicting the behaviour of these connections were also presented”, adds the PhD student.
According to José Gonilha, scientific supervisor of David Martins, “the team was surprised to win this award, despite being aware of the importance and quality of the work that engineer David Martins is developing in his PhD journey”. “In fact, the research works presented at CICE, the world’s premier conference on the use of FRP composites in civil engineering, are always of very high quality, and this year was no exception, which made us even more proud”, says the Técnico professor.
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have high potential for applications in Civil Engineering structures, due to their light weight, high strength, and durability. Professors João Ramôa Correia and Nuno Silvestre, scientific co-supervisors, highlight “this research area is very important because FRP composites have various applications, whether in new construction or in the rehabilitation of structures. Técnico has assumed a prominent role in recent years, with relevant contributions in various fields, many of which resulting from a fruitful collaboration between professors and researchers from DECivil and DEM”.
The International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering, promoted by the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), is an important international forum for debate and exchange of knowledge that brings together scientists, engineers, industrial partners and professionals in the field. The 12th edition, to be held from 9th to 11th July 2025, will be co-organised by Técnico, LNEC and the University of Minho.
