Reinforced Polymer Research Articles

Surface Modification of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene and Applications: A Review.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is often considered an ideal reinforcing material due to its extraordinary characteristics like high abrasion resistance, excellent toughness, and chemical stability. However, the poor surface properties have significantly hindered the progress of UHMWPE with high performance. This review is intended to introduce the physicochemical mechanisms of UHMWPE interfacial property modification. Therefore, this review provides a concise overview of the progress in diverse surface modification techniques for UHMWPE and their strengths and limitations as polymer reinforcement materials. Lastly, an overview of the potential and challenges of each surface modification has been summarized.

Anti-polyelectrolyte effect of zwitterions containing (meth)acrylic waterborne polymer chains as tool for colloidal stabilization and polymer reinforcement

The anti-polyelectrolyte effect, a characteristic unique to polymer chains containing zwitterions, was investigated for its impact on colloidal stabilization during emulsion polymerization and on the resulting polymer characteristics. The zwitterionic monomer (ZM) 3-[(3-Acrylamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulfonate (A3361) was selected for the synthesis of 30 wt% emulsifier-free methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate (MMA/n-BA) polymer latex. Three pH conditions were examined: neutral, where the zwitterionic chains are in a collapsed state, and acidic and basic, where these chains adopt an extended conformation, leading to the anti-polyelectrolyte effect. The study of the anti-polyelectrolyte phenomenon on colloidal stability was challenging due to the increased ionic strength in the dispersions. Nevertheless, films cast from the acidic latex demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, water resistance, and humidity barrier compared to films produced at neutral pH. This improvement is attributed to the anti-polyelectrolyte phenomenon, where the extended polymer chains rich in zwitterions offer enhanced ionic complexation, resulting in a denser and thicker ionic complexed network within the MMA/n-BA matrix. Under basic pH conditions, these improvements were modest, indicating that the anti-polyelectrolyte mechanism is influenced by pH. Furthermore, the high incorporation of A3361 facilitated, for the first time, the synthesis of 50% solids content emulsifier-free latexes, highlighting practical importance of this technology.

Simultaneous processing of both handheld biomixing and biowriting of kombucha cultured pre-crosslinked nanocellulose bioink for regeneration of irregular and multi-layered tissue defects

The nanocellulosic pellicle derived from the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (Kombucha SCOBY) is an important biomaterial for 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering. However, this nanocellulosic hydrogel has a highly entangled gel network. This needs to be partially modified to improve its processability and extrusion ability for its applications in the 3D bioprinting area. To control its mechanical and biological properties for direct 3D bioprinting applications, uniform reinforcement of nanocellulose-interacting polymers and nanoparticles in such a prefabricated gel network is essential. In this study, the hydrogel network is partially hydrolyzed with organic acid and subsequently transformed into a 3D bioprintable polyelectrolyte complex with chitosan and kaolin nanoparticles without any chemical crosslinker using a handheld 3D bioprinter. This handheld bioprinter ensures homogeneity in both biomixing and bioprinting of chitosan and kaolin within the modified nanocellulose network for multi-layered bioprinted scaffolds through an extensional shear mechanism. The biomixing simulation, mechanical (static, dynamic, and cyclic), 3D bioprinting, and cellular studies confirm the homogeneous biomixing of kaolin nanoparticles and live cells in this nanocellulose-chitosan polyelectrolyte hydrogel. The combination of SCOBY-derived nanocellulose-chitosan bioink with kaolin nanoparticles and a screw-driven handheld extrusion bioprinter demonstrates a promising platform for layer-by-layer regeneration of complex tissues with homogeneous cell/particle distribution with high cell viability.

Out-of-plane shear behavior of BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slabs: Experimental and numerical investigations

Sustainability and durability in construction are vital considerations that involve using environmentally friendly materials and implementing efficient design and construction techniques to minimize the environmental impact. This research study investigated the structural behavior of one-way solid slabs incorporating basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) reinforcement and geopolymer concrete to develop an environmentally sustainable and durable structural member. Six full-scale BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slab specimens were prepared and subjected to four-point loading tests to assess their out-of-plane shear performances. The considered experimental parameters were compressive strength of concrete (i.e., 30, 40 and 50 MPa) and longitudinal tensile reinforcement ratios (i.e., 1.20% and 2.18%). The structural performance of the slabs was carefully investigated in terms of crack patterns, failure modes, load-deflection relationships and load-strain relationships. The obtained shear resistances from tests were compared with predicted results from the Codes of Practice and design guidelines. A two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) analysis was conducted, considering the bond-slip relationship between BFRP rebar and geopolymer concrete. It was found that all tested specimens were governed by shear failure and had similar shear resistance for the chosen values of considered parameters. The JSCE shear design method provided the closest prediction of shear resistance of BFRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete one-way slab. The developed FE models predicted the out-of-plane shear performance with reasonable accuracy and revealed that the slip distribution of the BFRP rebar presents a sawtooth shape owing to concrete cracking.

Shear capacity analysis of fiber reinforced polymer concrete beams

In recent years, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement has garnered significant interest in the construction industry, particularly in concrete beam construction. Determining the shear capacity of FRP-reinforced beams is, however, an intricate task. The shear capacity of FRP-reinforced concrete beams can be estimated using design equations from various international standards of practice. However, these equations are often adaptations of those used for conventional steel reinforcement, resulting in unreliable estimates. This research compares design equation predictions with experimental data, utilizing test results from 48 carbon FRP-reinforced and 73 glass FRP-reinforced concrete beams. The results reveal significant differences in the accuracy and reliability of shear capacity predictions using American (ACI), Canadian (CSA), and Japanese (JSCE) design standards for both types of concrete beams. The ACI standard has high underestimation and inconsistent predictions for carbon and glass FRP beams, making it unsuitable for shear design. The CSA standard provides consistent predictions with moderate underestimation for both types of FRP beams, but it shows overestimation in certain cases. The JSCE standard consistently shows moderate underestimation without any instances of overestimation, making it a reliable tool for engineers and practitioners to estimate the shear capacity of both types of FRP-reinforced beams.

STRENGHENING OF RC BEAMS BY FRC AND FRP SYSTEMS – A REVIEW

The article examines studies on the reinforcement of reinforced concrete elements of cement -based fibro -based fibro systems (FRC) and polymers reinforcement fibro (FRP). Nowadays, the world economy, and with it, the construction industry is developing at a rapid pace. New materials, mechanization, construction equipment are emerging on the market. Due to this, modern structures impress with their shapes, scale and complexity of structures. The state of construction production in the country can be judged on the state of the economy of this country as a whole. Now the urgent issue in the world is the use of new composite materials in the strengthening of building structures. Such materials include non -metallic fittings, laminates, nets and canvases based on high -strength fibers. In this case, the own weight of fiber materials is slightly small. Only units of the above researchers performed enhancement of experimental samples under load, so the influence of the initial stress-deformed state on the work of the structure after amplification was practically not studied.

Analysis of damage characteristics of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive impact and research on CFRP reinforcement

To study the damage characteristics and damage model of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive impact, the failure modes of reinforced concrete slabs under near-field and contact explosion were first studied through on-site experiments. A coupled model was established based on the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method using AUTODYN finite element software. The reliability of the model was verified by comparing the numerical simulation results with experimental results. Based on this, a fully coupled model of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) reinforcement for reinforced concrete slabs under contact explosion was established, and the influence of different CFRP thicknesses and reinforcement methods on the blast resistance performance of reinforced concrete slabs was discussed. The research results indicate that under the action of near-field explosions, the front face of reinforced concrete slabs mainly experiences slight peeling damage, and the central area of the back face forms seismic collapse and peeling damage, with damage cracks diverging from the center to the surrounding areas; Under the action of contact explosion, the front face of the reinforced concrete slab produces blast pits, the back face forms a seismic collapse zone, and peeling damage occurs; The CFRP reinforcement layer can improve the blast resistance performance of reinforced concrete slabs; There is an optimal thickness when using CFRP to enhance the blast resistance of reinforced concrete slabs.

Bond of FRP bars in fine‐grained alkali‐activated concrete

AbstractAlkali‐activated cement (AAC) is an alternative binder with a promising potential to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and mitigate its environmental issues. The use of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcements with AAC concrete enables the development of corrosion‐resistant, environmentally friendly reinforced concrete structures. Bond behavior is critical in reinforced concrete structures and must be thoroughly studied for such new alternative materials. This study employs pullout tests to investigate the bond behavior between FRP bars and fine‐grained AAC concrete. Three fine‐grained AAC concretes with low to high strength, glass and carbon FRP bars and wrapped, milled, and smooth surface treatments were examined. The effect of bar casting position was also investigated. The compressive strength showed a significant influence on the bond strength. An average bond strength of approximately 18 MPa was observed for both glass and carbon FRP bars when used with 65 MPa concrete. Both the glass and carbon FRP bars with wrapping showed a lower bond strength than their milled FRP bars counterparts. The carbon bars without surface preparation (smooth bars) resulted in a much lower bond strength, around 4 MPa. In terms of casting positions, the bars cast in the middle section of the concrete block showed a higher bond strength than those at the bottom and top.

A refined method for designing the strength of normal cross-sections of eccentrically compressed concrete elements with composite polymer reinforcement

Introduction. The operating standards for the design of concrete structures with composite reinforcement SP 295.1325800.2017 do not consider the work of compressed reinforcement when calculating eccentrically compressed elements. The previous studies proposed a method for calculating the strength of normal cross-sections of eccentrically compressed elements. Though this method has shown a reasonably high agreement with the experimental data, it has also indicated some underestimation of the load-bearing capacity of such elements. In this paper, a further analysis of the developed method is performed and suggestions for its refinement are formulated in order to identify additional reserves of strength of concrete elements reinforced with composite reinforcement.Aim. To refine the method for designing the strength of normal cross-sections of eccentrically compressed concrete elements with composite reinforcement, to compare the refined method with experimental and theoretical data, as well as to assess its reliability.Materials and methods. Theoretical studies are based on the results of the tests that included the experimental examination of concrete samples reinforced with composite reinforcement under the action of eccentrically applied static compressive load consisting of four series of specimens with a total of 12 specimens.Results. The suggestions were formulated for specifying the value of the height of the compressed zone, as well as the value of tensile stresses in composite reinforcement for designing the strength of normal cross-sections of eccentrically compressed concrete elements with composite reinforcement.Conclusions. Based on the analysis of experimental data, a refined methodology for designing the strength of normal cross-sections of eccentrically compressed concrete elements reinforced with composite reinforcement is proposed. In addition, the assessment of the proposed refined method is carried out, which proved to have the required level of reliability, while providing the best convergence with the experimental data.

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Poly(Lactic Acid) Composites Reinforced with “Latxa” Sheep Wool Fibers: The Effect of Peroxide Surface Treatments and Fiber Content

“Latxa” sheep wool is rough, and it is not used in the textile industry because the fiber diameter is high compared with other wool fibers. Nowadays, this wool is considered as disposal and, with the aim to give it value, new uses must be explored. In the current work, the “Latxa” sheep wool fiber was evaluated as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer reinforcement. With the objective to optimize fiber/matrix adhesion, fibers were surface modified with peroxide. Oxidation treatment with peroxide led to chemical modifications of the wool fibers that improved the fiber/PLA adhesion, but the strength values achieved for the composites were lower compared to the neat PLA ones. The mechanical properties obtained in the current work were compared with the literature data of the PLA composites reinforced with vegetable fibers. The wool fibers showed inferior mechanical properties compared to the vegetable fiber counterparts. However, the preliminary results indicated that the incorporation of wool fibers to PLA reduced the flammability of composites.

Cryogenic mechanical performance and gas-barrier property of epoxy resins modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Type V linerless hydrogen storage vessels made of all-composite face the challenges of cryogenic mechanical failure and hydrogen leakage of composites. The cryogenic mechanical performance and gas-barrier property of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer for Type V vessels are largely determined by the epoxy matrix. Carbon nanotubes are widely used as polymer reinforcement material to enhance the cryogenic mechanical performance and gas-barrier property of epoxy resins. In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed into epoxy resins to prepare MWCNTs-modified epoxy resins. The cryogenic mechanical performance, gas-barrier and thermal properties of the modified resin were then investigated. The experimental findings revealed a 34.34% reduction in the gas permeability coefficient for the nanocomposites containing 0.9 wt% MWCNTs compared with the epoxy matrix. The tensile strength and failure strain at cryogenic temperature (77 K) experienced enhancements of 26.99% and 41.53%, respectively. In addition, the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the modified resin were improved. As a result, the MWCNTs-modified epoxy resin exhibits improved gas-barrier property in addition to excellent cryogenic mechanical performance, making it ideal for manufacturing Type V linerless hydrogen storage vessels.

Bending and shear strengthening of timber beams using prestressed steel and composite bars – experimental and numerical studies

The paper describes a program of experimental and numerical tests aimed at determining the mechanical properties of beams made of laminated timber (BSH) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) reinforced with pre-stressed bars made of basalt, glass, natural and steel fibers, basalt mats with roving and composite, polyethylene and natural yarn. The paper presents various types of reinforcements, the purpose of which was to obtain higher load-bearing capacity and stiffness in bending with shear than for unreinforced beams. The effectiveness of different reinforcement schemes was compared for seventeen beams subjected to experimental tests on a test stand, the modes of destruction were described, as well as mechanical properties, deformations and deflections for reinforced and unreinforced beams under multiply variable and long-term loading. Based on the experimental studies, a significant increase in the load-bearing capacity and stiffness of the reinforced beams subjected to simultaneous bending and shear was confirmed, and it was indicated that the reinforcements by pre-stressed bars (steel, with polymer reinforcement or natural fibers) and composite mats eliminated local defects and discontinuities in the wood, without affecting the quality and strength of the FRP-wood connection. The numerical results of the analysis of the beam models using the finite element method showed compliance with the experimental studies in terms of deflections, linear and angular strains for the reinforced and unreinforced beams

Numerical investigation on a precast bridge using GPC and BFRP reinforcements subjected to cross-fault rupture and fling step excitation

This study investigates the seismic performances of a precast bridge made of geopolymer concrete (GPC) with fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcements subjected to cross-fault ground motions. A numerical model was developed and verified against experimental results from a previous study and then used to evaluate the bridge's performances under earthquake excitations. The study found that a simplified model was able to reliably capture the failure pattern and displacement response of the bridge, reducing simulation time significantly. Additionally, the numerical results indicated the combination of torsional and flexural cracks was the primarily damage mode of the columns, which was not observed in the experimental test. This study also revealed that while the performances of the bridge using ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and GPC were similar under low ground excitations, GPC columns were more susceptible to brittle failure under higher ground excitations due to their brittleness. The use of FRP reinforcements led to similar displacement response as steel reinforcements under low ground displacement excitation, although severe flexural and shear damages on the column of Bent 2 were observed due to the lower elastic modulus and shear resistance of Basalt FRP material than steel. To address the disadvantages of brittle GPC and low-modulus of basalt FRP reinforcements, it is suggested to reinforce GPC with fibres and/or increase stirrup ratios if green GPC and corrosion-resistant basalt FRP reinforcements are used to construct bridges for seismic resistance.

Carbon nanotubes perpendicularly grown on graphene oxide nanosheets derived from metal-organic frameworks: Synergistic reinforcement of poly(l-lactic acid) scaffold

The construction of the nanohybrid composed of two carbonaceous nanomaterials is a promising strategy to inhibit their aggregation, and effectively exert the advantages of their excellent mechanical properties as reinforcement for polymers. Here, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were in situ perpendicularly growing on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) through metal-organic frameworks (MOF)-derived strategy by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), aiming to facilitate their dispersion on poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) bone scaffold fabricated by selective laser sintering (SLS). Specifically, GO provided nucleation sites for the growth of MOF, and worked as the templates when CNTs grew, in which MOF provided catalysts and carbon sources simultaneously. The precursor was heated to 550 °C and kept for 2 h, then heated to 900 °C and kept for 2 h before cooling. The obtained nanohybrid (GO@CNT) exhibited a superior dispersion state than the pure GO in the scaffold at the same loading, especially when the loading was 0.75 wt%. Adding 0.75 wt% GO@CNT endowed the scaffold with a remarkable increment in tensile strength and compressive strength of 13.36 MPa and 24.72 MPa with enhancement of 55.35% and 18.85%, respectively, compared to the scaffold containing 0.75 wt% GO. A crack extension model combined with experiment results was proposed to better understand reinforcement mechanisms. Additionally, the scaffold containing GO@CNT exhibited benign cytocompatibility with a cell-spreading area of 86.31% and cell density of 564 cells/mm2 after culturing for 5 d according to the results of cell adhesion and immunofluorescence tests, making it a promising candidate for bone defect repair.

Tribological Performance of Additive Manufactured PLA-Based Parts.

Polymer additive manufacturing has advanced from prototyping to producing essential parts with improved precision and versatility. Despite challenges like surface finish and wear resistance, new materials and metallic reinforcements in polymers have expanded its applications, enabling stronger, more durable parts for demanding industries like aerospace and structural engineering. This research investigates the tribological behaviour of FFF surfaces by integrating copper and aluminium reinforcement particles into a PLA (polylactic acid) matrix. Pin-on-disc tests were conducted to evaluate friction coefficients and wear rates. Statistical analysis was performed to study the correlation of the main process variables. The results confirmed that reinforced materials offer interesting characteristics despite their complex use, with the roughness of the fabricated parts increasing by more than 300%. This leads to an increase in the coefficient of friction, which is related to the variation in the material's mechanical properties, as the hardness increases by more than 75% for materials reinforced with Al. Despite this, their performance is more stable, and the volume of material lost due to wear is reduced by half. These results highlight the potential of reinforced polymers to improve the performance and durability of components manufactured through additive processes.

The Use of Natural Minerals as Reinforcements in Mineral-Reinforced Polymers: A Review of Current Developments and Prospects.

Natural minerals play a key role in the burgeoning field of mineral-reinforced polymers, providing an important element in strengthening and toughening the properties of composite materials. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the use of minerals in mineral-reinforced polymers, covering various aspects of their applications and impact on the final properties of these materials. The potential of various types of natural minerals (for example talc, montmorillonite, halloysite, diatomite) as reinforcements in mineral-reinforced polymers is discussed. Techniques for producing mineral-reinforced polymers using minerals, including the mixing method, impregnation, and coating application, are presented in detail. In addition, the effects of process parameters and component ratios on the final properties of mineral-reinforced polymers are discussed. The latest research on the use of minerals in mineral-reinforced polymers is also presented, including their effects on the strength, stiffness, resistance to environmental conditions, and biodegradation of the materials. Finally, the development prospects and potential applications of mineral-reinforced polymers with minerals in various industrial sectors, including packaging, automotive, construction, and medicine, are discussed.

Holistic life cycle cost analysis of road bridges with non-metallic reinforcement

Corrosion-related damage due to exposure to environmental conditions is the main cause of costs in the maintenance of transport infrastructure. Because of its high corrosion resistance and the associated higher durability, non-metallic reinforcement offers great potential for preventing such damage, thus reducing maintenance costs. In this article, potential savings for an integral road bridge are studied through a holistic life cycle cost (LCC) analysis considering four different reinforcement materials (steel, glass, basalt, carbon). A fair comparison is enabled by a material-specific design, the calculation of maintenance and user costs and the consideration of the respective disposal scenario. Moreover, environmental costs are recognised by carbon pricing based on life cycle analysis (LCA). The influence of individual parameters is quantified by means of a sensitivity analysis and the probability of savings is studied by Monte Carlo simulation. It is shown that higher investment costs for non-metallic reinforcement can be compensated by lower user costs. This is mainly due to shorter maintenance periods, as less time is required for repair action, whereby potential savings in user costs are particularly evident if the traffic route below the bridge is not disrupted. It is concluded that even from today's perspective, the use of glass and basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in highway bridges with average traffic volumes very likely offers an economic advantage over corrosion-prone reinforcing steel.

Elevating mechanical performance of cementitious composites with surface-modified 3D-Printed polymeric reinforcements

3D printed polymeric reinforcement has been found able to improve the ductility of cementitious materials. However, due to the hydrophobic nature of commonly used 3D printing polymers, the bonding strength between the 3D printed polymers and cementitious matrix is extremely weak, which potentially hinders the mechanical performance of the reinforced composites. This work aims to improve the bonding properties by applying surface modifications on the 3D printed reinforcement, and eventually enhance the mechanical performance of the reinforced cementitious composites. Three types of surface coatings ingredients: epoxy resin (EP), sand sprinkled epoxy (SA) and short steel fibers sprinkled epoxy (SF) were used. Pull-out experiments are performed to study the bonding properties of the 3D printed reinforcement with different coatings. Then, uniaxial tensile and four-point-bending experiments are used to investigate the mechanical performance of the reinforced cementitious composites. A lattice type numerical model is applied to simulate the pull-out and tensile tests. The pull-out experiments indicate that the SA and SF reinforcement achieved approximately two times higher bonding strength than the uncoated and EP reinforcement. The tensile and flexural results suggest that the cementitious composites with SA and SF reinforcement achieved significantly better ductility (manifested by strain-hardening and deflection-hardening behavior) than the composites with uncoated and EP reinforcement. The numerical simulation results highly agree with the experimental findings, and further confirmed that the improved reinforcement-mortar bonding strength is the determinative factor that enhanced the composites mechanical performance. The findings of this work suggest that the sand and steel fiber surface coatings can effectively enhance the ductility of cementitious composites reinforced by 3D printed polymers.

Machine-Learning-Based Predictive Models for Punching Shear Strength of FRP-Reinforced Concrete Slabs: A Comparative Study

This study is focused on the punching strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete slabs. The mechanical properties of reinforced concrete slabs are often constrained by their punching shear strength at the column connection regions. Researchers have explored the use of fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement as an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement to address this limitation. However, current codes poorly calculate the punching shear strength of FRP-reinforced concrete slabs. The aim of this study was to create a robust model that can accurately predict its punching shear strength, thus improving the analysis and design of composite structures with FRP-reinforced concrete slabs. In this study, 189 sets of experimental data were collected, and six machine learning models, including linear regression, support vector machine, BP neural network, decision tree, random forest, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting, were constructed and evaluated based on goodness of fit, standard deviation, and root-mean-square error in order to select the most suitable model for this study. The optimal model obtained was compared with the models proposed by codes and the researchers. Finally, a model explainability study was conducted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). The results showed that random forests performed best among all machine learning models and outperformed existing models suggested by codes and researchers. The effective depth of the FRP-reinforced concrete slabs was the most important and proportional to the punching shear strength. This study not only provides guidance on the design of FRP-reinforced concrete slabs but also informs future engineering practice.

A Reliability-Based Design Approach for the Flexural Resistance of Compression Yielded Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-Reinforced Concrete Beams

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement has been employed as an alternative to conventional steel reinforcement in concrete structures, which is attributed to its excellent strength and corrosion resistance. However, one drawback is that FRP reinforcements are brittle and affect the ductility of concrete structures. One of the recent effective techniques proposed to overcome ductility issues is the compression yielding (CY) concept. The CY mechanism allows the structure to fail differently than the conventional FRP-reinforced concrete structure. Thus, the existing design recommendations as per the current codes for FRP-reinforced concrete structures are not appropriate. Hence, reliability studies are crucial for the development of a functional CY beam design in order to emphasise the structure’s lifetime performance and to guarantee safety requirements. In this study, a reliability-based design approach is developed for a compression-yielded FRP-reinforced concrete beam (CY beam) using load and resistance factor design (LRFD). Firstly, the flexural failure modes of CY beams are discussed. The uncertainties involved in the development of the probabilistic model for the CY beam are defined. A case study is consequently conducted for a CY beam with random variables that are associated with the statistical characteristics of material properties and load. The reliability analysis method employed in this research is the Hasofer–Lind method. The results suggest the importance of choosing appropriate design variables and stochastic parameters for CY blocks that contribute to a higher level of reliability. The reliability index and resistance factors of a CY beam are then evaluated using the Monte Carlo Simulation computational method. The reliability index value of 3.336 is obtained from the simulation, which indicates that the CY beam demonstrates ductile behaviour. The results not only demonstrate ductile behaviour but also contribute to a possible reduction in material costs and a substantial safety margin. When compared to conventional FRP-reinforced concrete beams, for different load ratios, CY beams showed higher resistance and better reliability levels.