Fiber-reinforced composite materials have been used over the past years in several different civil structures, acquiring a leading role as structural elements [1-4]. In particular, FRP profiles are manufactured by so-called automated process of pultrusion. From a mechanical point of view, they can be considered as linear elastic, homogeneous and transversely isotropic, with the plane of isotropy being normal to the longitudinal axis (i.e. the axis of pultrusion). It is generally asserted that their mechanical behavior is highly affected by warping strains due to their small thickness. In addition, low shear moduli, more or less the same as those of the polymeric resin, can provoke a non-negligible increase in lateral deflections, thus affecting both the local and global buckling loads. Consequently, FRPs members exhibit significant non classical effects such as transverse shear, warping displacements and non-uniform torsional rigidity that make deformability and stability requirements more relevant than the strength limits in the design process. Recently, experimental studies by Mosallam [5] and Feo et al. [6] showed that the condition of a rigid connection should be replaced by a more appropriate assumption due to the presence of a higher local resin concentration in the connection region between the flange and web. Furthermore, taking into account that pultrusion guarantees very high strength and stiffness along the longitudinal direction of the beam, a deeper investigation of this topic is required. In this paper, which is a continuation of previous ones [7-8], a geometrically nonlinear model for studying the lateral global buckling problem of a generic open/closed composite beam is presented. The model is based on a full second-order deformable beam theory and accounts for both the warping effects and possible displacement discontinuities at the web/flange interface. Equilibrium nonlinear equations are derived from the Principle of Virtual Displacements. A displacement-based one-dimensional finite element model is also developed. Numerical results are obtained for thin-walled composite beams with open and closed section under flexural/torsional loads. The main aim is to investigate the lateral buckling behavior taking into account the effects of shear and web/flange junction deformability as well as the initial geometric imperfections. The reliability of the mechanical model is assured by comparisons with other numerical and experimental results available in literature. Preliminary results show that deformability and stability requirements are fundamental in the safety analysis of such members.
Pre-buckling behavior of composite beams: an innovative approach
ASCIONE, FRANCESCO;MANCUSI, Geminiano;LAMBERTI, MARCO
2014-01-01
Abstract
Fiber-reinforced composite materials have been used over the past years in several different civil structures, acquiring a leading role as structural elements [1-4]. In particular, FRP profiles are manufactured by so-called automated process of pultrusion. From a mechanical point of view, they can be considered as linear elastic, homogeneous and transversely isotropic, with the plane of isotropy being normal to the longitudinal axis (i.e. the axis of pultrusion). It is generally asserted that their mechanical behavior is highly affected by warping strains due to their small thickness. In addition, low shear moduli, more or less the same as those of the polymeric resin, can provoke a non-negligible increase in lateral deflections, thus affecting both the local and global buckling loads. Consequently, FRPs members exhibit significant non classical effects such as transverse shear, warping displacements and non-uniform torsional rigidity that make deformability and stability requirements more relevant than the strength limits in the design process. Recently, experimental studies by Mosallam [5] and Feo et al. [6] showed that the condition of a rigid connection should be replaced by a more appropriate assumption due to the presence of a higher local resin concentration in the connection region between the flange and web. Furthermore, taking into account that pultrusion guarantees very high strength and stiffness along the longitudinal direction of the beam, a deeper investigation of this topic is required. In this paper, which is a continuation of previous ones [7-8], a geometrically nonlinear model for studying the lateral global buckling problem of a generic open/closed composite beam is presented. The model is based on a full second-order deformable beam theory and accounts for both the warping effects and possible displacement discontinuities at the web/flange interface. Equilibrium nonlinear equations are derived from the Principle of Virtual Displacements. A displacement-based one-dimensional finite element model is also developed. Numerical results are obtained for thin-walled composite beams with open and closed section under flexural/torsional loads. The main aim is to investigate the lateral buckling behavior taking into account the effects of shear and web/flange junction deformability as well as the initial geometric imperfections. The reliability of the mechanical model is assured by comparisons with other numerical and experimental results available in literature. Preliminary results show that deformability and stability requirements are fundamental in the safety analysis of such members.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
