Finite-Element and Simplified Models of GFRP Connections
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 125, Issue 7
Abstract
Finite-element models of a variety of joints between glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) pultruded members are described that reproduce experimentally measured linear elastic stiffnesses to within 10%. The models were constructed using shell finite elements. The material properties of the pultrusions were measured using a combination of tests and fits to numerical models. This approach produced elastic constants that proved reliable in the subsequent finite-element modeling of the joints. Standard data provided by the manufacturer gave inaccurate predictions of the joint stiffnesses. Two types of simplified models were also considered: (1) simplified beam models; and (2) a condensed finite-element model. The simplified beam models replace the joint with an elastic connection region and a torsional spring. The condensed finite-element models use a detailed shell element model of the joint to extract the equivalent stiffnesses of the joint that can be used with a standard frame analysis package. When compared with experimental data, the simplified beam models performed poorly. However, the condensed finite-element models performed almost as well as the detailed finite models.
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Received: Dec 4, 1997
Published online: Jul 1, 1999
Published in print: Jul 1999
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