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This paper investigates a hybrid satellite-terrestrial cooperative relaying communications network (HSTCN) under independent and non-identical shadowed Rician and Nakagami-m fading channels. It evaluates the performance of such a network using amplify-and-forward (AF) cooperative relaying protocol. The maximal ratio combining (MRC) technique is used at the destination to combine the signals received from the source and cooperating relay nodes. An analytical approach is derived to evaluate the performance of the system in terms of outage probability and symbol error rate (SER). The closed form expressions for the probability density function (PDF), cumulative distribution function (CDF) and moment generating function (MGF) of the end-to-end signal to noise ratio (SNR) are also derived. The derived analytical expressions are applied to the general operating conditions with the help of satellite channel data available from the literature. The analytical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The results show the improvement in the performance of the HSTCN under challenging fading conditions with the help of fixed multiple terrestrial relay nodes

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Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly used in civil infrastructure applications, primarily because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Further deployment of FRP in the construction market will be accelerated by using low-cost, durable matrix materials. In this paper, published research on the durability of a low-cost matrix, isophthalic polyester (IPE), is reviewed and the results are compared to the durability of the more expensive vinyl ester (VE). The objective is to evaluate the suitability of IPE in civil engineering applications, particularly in conjunction with concrete and high alkaline environments. The analysis indicates that, although vinyl esters are generally more durable than isophthalic polyesters, the performance difference does not always appear to be very significant. More importantly, the literature review revealed that the data on the durability of IPE in concrete and alkaline solutions is of limited usefulness. Since this is the kind of information needed to evaluate IPE's effectiveness in construction applications, further research in these areas is recommended.

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