This paper aims to provide interlaminar fracture mechanics data for pultruded glass fiber-polymer materials, extracted from a composite bridge deck system. Both Modes I and II were investigated, through the adaptation of classical fracture mechanics tests to pultruded specimens. In all, nine data reduction methods were used to determine the Strain Energy Release Rate (SERR) in both Modes and, apart from the Compliance Calibration and Simple Beam Theory methods recommended by current standards, exhibited good agreement between themselves.@en

This paper aims to propose a novel approach to assess the multi-crack behavior of layered fiber-polymer composites. The Compliance and R-curves generated from this novel approach were useful to understand the multiple delamination process, enabling to evaluate separately the strain energy release rate (SERR) related to each crack. A cohesive zone model was developed to simulate the failure process zone of three parallel cracks in web-flange junction (WFJ) specimens extracted from a pultruded bridge deck system subjected to transverse bending. The fracture parameters estimated based on the proposed approach led to a good agreement between the numerical model and the experiments in terms of load vs. displacement curves. Moreover, it was possible to observe that the formation of new cracks may lead to a significant drop on the R-curve, due to the closure of the former cracks.@en

This paper aims to present an experimental investigation on the behavior of web-flange junctions (WFJs) rotational stiffness of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRP). Channels and I-sections were tested using a simple set-up, which was developed in order to experimentally characterize the junctions in a direct manner. The Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique was used, allowing overall deflections and relative rotations between web and flange to be monitored. The WFJs’ imperfections were analyzed through an optical microscope and correlated with the cracks’ formation. Further, damage thresholds are identified using available stress equations for curved composite members and lower bound functions are proposed to simulate the junction stiffness retention. Finally, two Equations are developed in order to analytically predict pultruded junctions’ rotational stiffness per unit of width. In general, the theoretical and experimental results agreed fairly well, with a maximum difference of 24% for I-sections and 38% for channels.@en

This paper aims to investigate the performance of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (pGFRP) I-section columns subject to short-term concentric compression, bringing up a discussion on the relevant parameters affecting their local buckling behavior and the interpretation of tests results. An experimental program was carried out, including a detailed material characterization and twenty-nine compression tests on short I-columns made of either polyester or vinyl ester matrices, with variable flange width-to-section depth ratios (bf/d), column lengths and local end conditions. The theoretical critical loads predicted using generalized beam theory (GBT) and finite element method (FEM) were compared to experimental results obtained by Southwell and Koiter techniques, with better agreements obtained for the latter. It is shown that, besides the length and local end conditions for loaded edges, post-buckling with associated non-linear elastic strains distribution throughout the cross-section and damage prior to buckling have relevant influence on the measured critical loads. On the other hand, the influence of the rotational stiffness of web-flange junctions were considered small for the material and cross-sections studied. Finally, results have shown that the usual boundary condition adopted in literature approaches a clamped condition instead of simply-supported one.@en