Article,
Web crippling performance of pultruded GFRP C sections strengthened by fibre-reinforced epoxy composite
Contributors
Kong S.Y.
0000-0003-3321-7989
(Corresponding author)
[1]
Miah M.J.
0000-0002-3021-8591
[3]
[4]
Affiliations
- [1] Monash University Malaysia [NORA names: Malaysia; Asia, South];
- [2] Monash University [NORA names: Australia; Oceania; OECD];
- [3] Aarhus University [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [4] Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering [NORA names: Bangladesh; Asia, South];
- [5] Universiti Tenaga Nasional [NORA names: Malaysia; Asia, South]
Abstract
This study aims to improve the web crippling performance of pultruded glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) C sections using fibre-reinforced epoxy composite (FEC). The strengthened GFRP C sections were subjected to two loading conditions: interior-two-flange (ITF) and exterior two-flange (ETF). The parameters considered were bearing lengths, FEC strengthening length and thicknesses. Two failure modes, namely web-flange junction failure and web buckling failure were observed for the pultruded GFRP C sections under ETF loading conditions as the bearing length changed. While the combination of the web-flange junction and FEC crushing failures were observed under ITF loading conditions at 20 mm and 50 mm bearing lengths. Furthermore, the average web crippling capacity of strengthened GFRP C sections improved by up to 426 % and 488 %, in comparison to control samples under ETF and ITF loading conditions, respectively. The average web crippling capacity of pultruded GFRP C sections increased up to 45 % when the bearing length increased from 20 mm to 50 mm. The finite element (FE) outcomes showed an agreement with experimental results in the context of failure patterns, load-displacement profiles and web crippling capacities. Finally, equations were proposed to estimate the web crippling capacity of pultruded GFRP C sections strengthened with FEC.
