Advanced Materials: Shaping the Future of Structural Engineering
JUNE 2026
Building With Advanced Materials: An Evolution in Structural Engineering
Discover how Frost is shaping the future of the built environment through innovation in research, testing, and advanced material design.
Leadership in the Structural Composites Industry
Frost Engineering & Consulting is a recognized leader in structural engineering with advanced materials. Our team brings deep expertise in research, testing, and design, with extensive experience delivering both new construction and retrofit projects using composite and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems. We have successfully supported projects across a diverse range of sectors- including residential, commercial, industrial, mission-critical, and infrastructure – serving both public and private clients.
Through our work, Frost has played a key role in advancing innovation in FRP, contributing to research, material testing, and the development of structural design guidance. Below are several notable initiatives that reflect our ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of advanced materials in structural engineering.
LASCE/SEI 74-23 and CEN/TS 19101 Design Manual Comparison
In collaboration with the University of Miami, Frost Engineering & Consulting contributed to the development of a design manual for nonmetallic pultruded structures, prepared for NEx (Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials). The manual supports engineers in applying FRP design provisions while comparing the American (ASCE/SEI 74-23) and European (CEN/TS 19101) frameworks.
This work included a detailed comparison of design philosophy, load and resistance approaches, environmental reduction factors, creep behavior, member design procedures, and bolted connection design. The manual provides guidance for thin-walled pultruded glass FRP profiles and includes worked examples for connections, flexural members, shear, and compression design.
A peer-reviewed paper on this study can be viewed here.
Development of Design Guidelines for Gratings and Handrails
The Frost team is leading an initiative in collaboration with NEx to develop comprehensive, standardized design guidelines for gratings and handrails using FRP and other nonmetallic composite materials. The goal of this effort is to establish and validate advanced materials as safe, reliable alternatives for use in construction and infrastructure applications. The project includes an in-depth review of existing standards and industry practices to identify gaps in safety, durability, and performance criteria.
FRP Fire Resistance and Elevated Temperature Behavior
In collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, Frost team members completed a study exploring how pultruded FRP performs under high heat and fire exposure – combining previous research, code evaluation, and new material testing.
Key findings showed that fire performance varies significantly based on factors like fiber orientation, resin type, additives, coatings, and cross-section. While coatings and charring can enhance resistance, certain flame-retardant additives may reduce strength – emphasizing the importance of balanced, performance-driven design. The research also identified practical strategies to improve fire resistance, including protective coatings, resin modifications, and increased member thickness.