Behaviour of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) structural profile columns under axial compression

Abstract

Abstract Glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) structural profiles in the construction industry are a promising alternative to conventional building materials due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile strength, insulation properties, chemical resistance, fatigue properties, and lower maintenance cost. This study aims to evaluate the compression behaviour of semi-compact and slender glass fiber-reinforced plastic I-sections. Short, intermediate, and long columns of both slender and semi-compact I-sections were subjected to axial compression, and the experimental capacity was compared to available theoretical results. It was found that the experimental capacity of short, semi-compact, and long columns were 27 %, 49 %, and 40 % lower than the theoretical capacity of semi-compact I-sections. Short slender sections had an ultimate experimental capacity 55 % greater than the theoretical results. However, lower ultimate capacities were achieved for intermediate and long columns in the case of slender sections when compared to the theoretical capacity. Slender sections were prone to both global and local buckling, whereas semi-compact sections failed by global buckling alone. The study also concludes the need for proper section classification of glass fiber-reinforced plastic sections to consider buckling characteristics. The existing theoretical equations to estimate the load-carrying capacity was found to be overly conservative; hence it is necessary to conduct numerical and parametric studies to develop equations that are more in agreement with the experimental results.