Bonded Sleeve Connections for Joining Tubular Glass Fiber–Reinforced Polymer Beams and Columns: Experimental and Numerical Studies
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 22, Issue 4
Abstract
A bonded sleeve connection was developed for joining tubular glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) beams and columns. It utilizes a sleeve connector made by welding a steel tube to a steel endplate. The steel tube is then inserted into and adhesively bonded with the GFRP beam end and the endplate is connected to the GFRP column using through-bolts. Four beam-to-column specimens with different bond lengths between the GFRP beam and steel tube and different numbers of bolts were tested. The moment-rotation responses, failure modes, and local strain responses were experimentally received and comparatively studied. The measured initial rotational stiffness of the proposed bonded sleeve connections was evaluated against a standard classification and compared to existing connection systems. Numerical analysis was also performed through finite element (FE) modeling. Paired contact elements and pretension elements were used to model the bolted connections, taking into account effects of friction, pretension force, and bolt hole clearance. Relevant failure criteria were also used to indicate yielding of the steel endplate and cohesive failure. Modeling and experimental results compared well in terms of moment-rotation behavior and failure modes. Further parametric study evidenced dominant effects of endplate thickness on the initial rotational stiffness of the connections.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Australian Research Council through the Discovery project (DP180102208) and Monash University. The experimental work was conducted in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University, Australia, and the technical supports from Mr. Long Goh and Mr. Mark Taylor is acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 22 • Issue 4 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 24, 2017
Accepted: Feb 6, 2018
Published online: May 28, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Oct 28, 2018
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