LOCAL BUCKLING EXPERIMENTS ON FRP COLUMNS

In this paper, local flange-buckling of thin-walled pultruded FRP colu mns is investigated. Experimental data are presented and correlated wi th theoretical predictions. Good agreement between theoretical and exp erimental results is found. Possible explanations for slight deviation s in the experimental data are advanced. The experimental and data red uction procedures used to obtain the local buckling loads are presente d. A new data reduction technique using Southwell's method is develope d to interpret local buckling test data. The usefulness of the data re duction technique is demonstrated for various column sections and expe rimental conditions.