The flexural behaviour of a new generation composite sandwich beams made up of glass fibre reinforced polymer skins and modified phenolic core material was investigated. The composite sandwich beams were subjected to 4-point static bending test to determine their strength and failure mechanisms in the flatwise and the edgewise positions. The results of the experimental investigation showed that the composite sandwich beams tested in the edgewise position failed at a higher load with less deflection compared to specimens tested in the flatwise position. Under flexural loading, the composite sandwich beams in the edgewise position failed due to progressive failure of the skin while failure in the flatwise position is in a brittle manner due to either shear failure of the core or compressive failure of the skin followed by debonding between the skin and the core. The results of the analytical predictions and numerical simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results.

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Novel epoxidized hemp oil-based biocomposites containing jute fibre reinforcement were produced at the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) owing to the need to develop new types of biobased materials. Mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and interlaminar shear), thermo-mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, storage modulus and crosslink density) and moisture-absorption properties (saturation moisture level and diffusion coefficient) were investigated and compared with samples containing commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil and a synthetic bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-based epoxy control, R246TX cured with a blend of triethylenetetramine and isophorone diamine. Scanning electron microscopy was also performed to investigate the fibre–matrix interface. Epoxidized hemp oil-based samples were found to have marginally superior mechanical, dynamic mechanical and similar water-absorption properties in comparison to samples made with epoxidized soybean oil bioresin; however, both sample types were limited to bioresin concentrations below 30%. Synthetic epoxy-based samples exhibited the highest mechanical, dynamic mechanical and lowest water-absorption properties of all investigated samples. This study has also determined that epoxidized hemp oil-based bioresins when applied to jute fibre-reinforced biocomposites can compete with commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil in biocomposite applications.

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3Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sandwich systems as primary load-bearing elements are 4 relatively new concepts in lightweight civil infrastructure. These systems offer a combination 5 of light weight, high strength, thermal insulation for some types, and service-life benefits. 6Recent developments and applications have demonstrated that these composite systems have 7 emerged as a cost-effective alternative, especially when each material component is 8 appropriately designed. Still, some issues and challenges need to be addressed if FRP systems 9 are to gain widespread use in civil infrastructure. This paper provides an overview of the state-10 of-the-art research, development, and applications of FRP sandwich systems. It also identifies 11 the challenges and future opportunities for the broad use of these advanced systems in civil 12 engineering and construction. 13

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