LOCAL BUCKLING AND FAILURE OF PULTRUDED FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTIC BEAMS

An experimental investigation of the local compression flange buckling and failure of commercially produced pultruded fiber-reinforced plast ic (FRP) I-shaped beams is described in this paper. Results of tests o n pultruded E-glass/polyester and E-glass/vinylester composite materia l beams are described. The test configuration was designed to cause lo cal buckling and ultimate failure of the compression flange of the bea ms and to prevent global lateral-torsional buckling. The beams were st iffened to prevent crippling and warping at the supports, and local te nsile failure at the load points. All beams were monitored with strain gages and LVDT's. Buckling loads, failure loads, buckling stresses, d eflections, and failure modes are reported. Effective mechanical prope rties of the beams, obtained from overall flexural and shear strain da ta, are presented. A discussion of the different failure characteristi cs of the polyester and the vinylester beams is provided.