Editor's Note

Since its inception in 1997, the Journal of Composites for Construction (JCC) has been sponsored within ASCE by the Construction Institute (CI), whose mission is to serve its members and participants in the construction process, improve the state of construction practice through both the development of knowledge and technology transfer, and to advance the knowledge and practice of construction (http:∕∕www.asce.org∕instfound∕ci.cfm). This long-standing relationship between JCC and CI continues to promote the interests of both entities.

In March 2003, the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC) was formed (http:∕∕www.iifc-hq.org∕). The aim of the not-for-profit IIFC is to advance the understanding and the application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil infrastructure, in the service of the engineering profession and society. It is fitting that the IIFC seek outlets for the publication of news, reports, and scholarly papers relating to FRP materials for construction. One such outlet is FRP International, the official IIFC newsletter, which can be downloaded from the institute’s website. Another, as of December 2004, is the JCC. Indeed, the April 2005 issue marks the first under cosponsorship of the ASCE CI and the IIFC, as can be seen in the new masthead of the Journal. I extend my thanks to the many key persons in the ASCE Publications and Journals Departments, the CI, and the IIFC who made the new cosponsorship agreement possible, and I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership among all these entities.

In other JCC news, Prof. Zhishen Wu of Ibaraki University, Japan, has been appointed to the International Editorial Board, effective January 1, 2005. Prof. Wu’s recent interests in the area of FRP materials for construction include repair, strengthening, and upgrading of existing structures, fracture mechanics, and smart materials.