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The PhD defense of CORE Group member Mateus Hofmann took place today, March 21, who presented his thesis titled “Sustainable bio-based resins and fibre-polymer composites for civil engineering structural applications”. The thesis was unanimously approved “With Distinction and Honour” by a jury composed of Professor Jorge de Brito (IST-UL), Professor Jorge Coelho (FCTUC), Dr. Susana Cabral-Fonseca (LNEC), Professor Fernando Branco (IST-UL) and Professor João Ramôa Correia (IST-UL). During the last 4 years, Mateus developed bio-based unsaturated polyester resins for structural applications in FRP composite materials under the supervision of Professor João Ramôa Correia and co-supervision of Dr. Mário Garrido and Professor João Bordado. We congratulate Mateus Hofmann on receiving the Doctoral degree in Civil Engineering by Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon) and wish him the greatest success in his…

The paper “Biobased Thermosetting Polyester Resin for High-Performance Applications” was selected for the front cover of the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering journal (Volume 10, Issue 11, published on March 21, 2022). This paper shows some of the work developed within the CORE Group towards the development of novel routes for achieving biobased unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs) from building blocks derived from renewable raw materials and reactive diluents with low styrene content. The bio-based UPRs highlighted in this paper exhibited high mechanical and thermomechanical performance while having over 50% (by weight) of their content derived from renewable resources. Below you can find the abstract for this paper: “Reducing the dependency from petroleum-based monomers and crosslinkers is an increasingly important goal for the plastics industry. This is being enabled by the…

The Council of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC) attributed the organization of the 12th International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE) to Instituto Superior Técnico, the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering and the University of Minho. The CICE2025, jointly organized by these three host institutions, will be held at Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, from 9 to 11 July 2025. Save the date!

The paper “GFRP beam-to-column connection using stainless steel cleats” by David Martins, José Gonilha, João Correia and Nuno Silvestre was distinguished with the “Best Paper Award” in the category “FRP in new construction” by the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), on occasion of the 10th International Conference on Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2020/2021), held in Istanbul, Turkey on December 8-10, 2021. Below you can find the abstract for this paper: “Pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles are increasingly finding their way in civil engineering structural applications. The design of GFRP connections between profiles is of great relevance, as they influence the members’ deflections and often govern design at ultimate limit states, being prone to brittle failure modes. The first part of this paper…

There is currently an open position in the CORE Group for a PhD researcher envisaging the development of a durability study and life cycle assessment (LCA) of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials incorporating bio-based resins derived from renewable resources ("bio-composites"), in the scope of the EcoComposite (PTDC/ECI-EGC/29597/2017) research project, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The successful candidate will carry out a work programme comprising the following activities: (i) accelerated ageing and subsequent mechanical characterization of bio-composites, (ii) execution of the life cycle inventory for the relevant materials and processes, (iii) environmental and economic "cradle-to-gate" LCA of the bio-composites, and (iv) comparison between the environmental and economic impacts of the bio-composites and functionally equivalent conventional FRP composites produced…

The CORE Group currently has seven ongoing MSc dissertations, covering topics such as durability, behaviour under elevated temperature, fire exposure, and damage progression modelling of FRP materials. A definite commitment to improving the sustainability of fibre-polymer composites is also reflected in these dissertations, with three studies concerning bio-based and environmentally friendlier FRP solutions. Meet our MSc students and their dissertation topics: Afonso Raynal e Menezes Paes de AtaídeEN: Elevated temperature mechanical behaviour of FRP composite materials: Effects of fibre architecturePT: Comportamento mecânico de materiais compósitos FRP a temperatura elevada: Influência da arquitetura de fibras Ana Carolina Mendes LopezEN: Durability of bio-based CFRP laminates for structural strengtheningPT: Durabilidade de bio-laminados CFRP para reforço estrutural Beatriz Maria Martins Antunes Tavares da SilvaEN: Durability of vacuum infused FRP composite bridge decksPT: Durabilidade de…

Nikola Perkovic from the University of Zagreb Nikola Perković recently joined the CORE Group as a guest student to develop his thesis on the behaviour of glue-laminated hollow timber elements at ambient and fire conditions. During his stay, Nikola will be advised by Professor João Correia and Dr. João Firmo (IST) and supervised by Prof. Vlatka Rajčić from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Zagreb. He is joining our group between the 7th of September and the 31st of October 2021 after having previously been with us for a 3 weeks period in July. This STSM (Short Term Scientific Mission) was developed under the COST Action CA18120 (CERTBOND) and supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

On 13 September 2021, the CORE Group member Wallace Maia de Souza successfully defended his PhD Thesis and awarded the Doctoral degree in Civil Engineering by Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon) under the supervision of Prof. João Ramôa Correia and co-supervision of Dr. João Pedro Firmo and Prof. João Almeida. During the last 4 years, Wallace focused his research on the behaviour of concrete columns reinforced with GFRP rebars subjected to different loading conditions, including monotonic and cyclic lateral loads. This research included a comprehensive experimental campaign, comprising tests on 16 real-scale concrete columns (with footings), complemented with analytical and numerical studies. Wallace will now proceed his academic career at the Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Brazil. Congratulations and best wishes for the new challenge. Wallace after his PhD public…

We welcome Vadimas Kitovas who is joining the CORE Group for a 5 months period (1 Sep 2021 to 1 Feb 2022) as a guest PhD student from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). Vadimas is developing his PhD studies on the topic of shear connections for flexural closed section composite members under the supervision of Professor Mindaugas Augonis (KUT) and co-supervision of Dr. Mário Arruda from the CORE Group. Vadimas Kitovas from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).