Local Buckling of Pultruded FRP Beams: Theory and Experiment

Bank, L. C.; Nadipelli, M.; Gentry, T. R.; Yin, J. S.; ,

Local Buckling of Pultruded FRP Beams: Theory and Experiment

by L. C. Bank, Catholic Univ of America, Washington, United States,
M. Nadipelli, Catholic Univ of America, Washington, United States,
T. R. Gentry, Catholic Univ of America, Washington, United States,
J. S. Yin, Catholic Univ of America, Washington, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Structures Congress XII

Abstract:

A continuing experimental and theoretical investigation of the local compression flange buckling of commercially produced pultruded fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) beams is briefly described in this paper. Results of tests on pultruded E-glass/polyester and E-glass/vinylester composite material wide-flange I-beams are presented. The beams were tested under four-point bending over a 2743 mm span in a specially designed fixture which was designed to cause local buckling and ultimate failure of the compression flange of the beams and to prevent global lateral-torsional buckling and local web failure. All beams were monitored with strain gages and LVDTs. Buckling loads and buckling stresses are reported in this paper. Theoretical predictions of the buckling loads are also presented. In the theoretical analysis, the compression flange was modeled as an orthotropic plate with free and rotationally restrained unloaded edges. For an experimentally obtained buckle half-wavelength, the theoretical model predicts the edge rotational restraint coefficient and the buckling stress.

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