TG ID
TG5
Name
Advanced FRP Manufacturing Techniques
Subject
TG5 aims to bring together leading researchers and industry experts to advance the development, adoption, and implementation of innovative manufacturing techniques for FRP composites in civil engineering. Advanced manufacturing techniques—such as 3D printing, automated fiber placement (AFP), digital fabrication, robotic-assisted manufacturing, and other emerging technologies—are transforming how FRP composites are designed and produced. However, several challenges remain, including optimizing material characterization, improving manufacturing efficiency, ensuring structural performance, and developing standardized testing and design methodologies for structural applications which require extensive laboratory testing.
Overview
TG5 will comprise researchers and industry professionals with expertise in 3D printing, automated fiber placement (AFP), digital fabrication, robotic-assisted manufacturing, and other advanced techniques. TG5 will address several critical priorities and challenges in the field, including material and process optimization, mechanical properties of printed FRP, scalability (to bridge the gap between the lab tests and practical applications), and design guidelines and standardization. Combining topology and structural optimization with additive manufacturing can lead to improved sustainability by lowering the cost of material and time for production and leading to full automatization of FRP structure in civil engineering.
Objectives
TG5 aims to achieve the following:
- Perform state-of-the-art literature review to understand the current stage of advanced FRP manufacturing techniques in research, industry practice, and applications in construction.
- Facilitate global collaboration and knowledge sharing by establishing an international network of researchers, engineers, and industry professionals working on software and hardware solutions for advanced FRP manufacturing, and organizing webinars and conference sessions under the IIFC framework to disseminate the latest research findings.
- Contribute to mechanical testing, quality control, and standardization by collaborating with standards organizations and regulatory bodies (e.g., ISO, ASTM) to develop benchmark testing protocols for novel FRP manufacturing techniques.
- Write proposals to seek grants from funding agencies to perform collaborative research to advance novel FRP manufacturing techniques.
Program/Tasks and Timetable
TG5 will focus on the following tasks within an organized timeline:
- Task 1: Perform state-of-the-art literature review of advanced FRP manufacturing techniques in research, industry practice, and applications in construction. A review paper in this area will be written and published in a high-rank peer-reviewed journal.
- Task 2: Organize webinars and conference special sessions under the IIFC framework to disseminate the latest research findings.
- Task 3: Identify critical testing challenges and gaps in current standards for advanced FRP manufacturing and then develop benchmark mechanical testing protocols for 3D-printed and automated FRP components.
- Task 4: Write proposals to seek grants from funding agencies to perform collaborative research to advance novel FRP manufacturing techniques when there are opportunities.
Expected deliverables
The following deliverables are expected:
- A state-of-the-art review on advanced FRP manufacturing techniques to be published in a peer-reviewed journal
- Special sessions at IIFC sponsored conferences
- Webinars to introduce the advanced FRP manufacturing techniques to IIFC members
- Collaborative research proposals to funding agencies
- High-impact journal articles based on collaborative research among the members of this TG
- Development of standardized test methods for mechanical performance of FRP components produced through advanced manufacturing
- Identification and recognition of potential real-world applications of additive manufacturing in civil engineering, such as facades, noise barriers, pedestrian bridges, secondary roof structures, and other infrastructure elements.
- Final report and recommendations to IIFC
Team
Chair: Dr. Baolin Wan (baolin.wan@marquette.edu), Associate Professor, Marquette University, USA
Co-Chair: Dr. Lucija Stepinac (lstepinac@arhitekt.hr), Assistant Professor, University of Zagreb
Dr. Guan Lin (ling@sustech.edu.cn), Associate Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology
