Response of Beam-To-Column Web Cleated Joints For FRP Pultruded Members
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 18, Issue 2
Abstract
Physical testing is used to characterize the structural properties of beam-to-column joints, comprising pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) H-shapes of depth 203 mm, connected by 128 mm-long web cleats and two M16 bolts per leg. Testing is performed on two batches of nominally identical specimens. One batch had web cleats of pultruded FRP and the other had structural steel. The structural behavior of the joints is based on their moment-rotation responses, failure modes, and serviceability vertical deflection limits. Joints with FRP cleats failed by delamination cracking at the top of the cleats, and when the cleats were of steel, the FRP failure occurred inside the column members. Neither failure mode is reported in the design manuals from pultruders. At the onset of the FRP damage, it was found that the steel joints were twice as stiff as the FRP joints. On the basis of a characteristic (damage) rotation, calculated in accordance with Eurocode 0, the serviceability deflection limits are established to be span/300 and span/650 for the joints with FRP and steel cleats, respectively. This finding suggests that appropriate deflection limits, in relation to cleated connections, should be proposed in manufactures’ design manuals and relative design standards and design codes. Failure to address the serviceability, by the engineer of record, could lead to unreliable designs.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank EPSRC [Connections and Joints for Buildings and Bridges of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (EP/H042628/1)] and Access Engineering and Design (supplier of Creative Pultrusions Inc. product Pultex in the UK), Telford, UK, for project funding and supplying FRP shapes, respectively. Skilled technical support from Mr. Colin Banks (Civil Engineering), Mr. Rob Bromley (workshop), and Mr. Graham Canham (photographer), in the School of Engineering, is acknowledged as being invaluable to the quality and future effect of the research.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 18 • Issue 2 • April 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 13, 2013
Accepted: May 2, 2013
Published online: Nov 7, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Apr 7, 2014
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