Flexural performance of hybrid beams made of glass and pultruded GFRP: Fid-Bau Portal

Flexural performance of hybrid beams made of glass and pultruded GFRP

Speranzini, E. / Agnetti, S.

Highlights • Experimental investigation of hybrid beams using four-point bending tests. • GFRP pultruded profile increases the strength and avoids the fragile breakage. • The advantages are the high post-cracking strength and the pseudo-ductile behaviour. • An analytical model was performed in order to interpret the experimental results. • The model is based on the concept of the classical beam’s theory.

Abstract This study is aimed at the investigation of hybrid beams specially constructed by coupling glass and pultruded fibreglass profiles. The investigation consists of a study of the flexural behaviour of the hybrid system using four-point bending tests, preceded by adhesion tests to check the validity of the bond between the two components. The goal is to find the technological solution for a beam that reaches a first cracking load value high enough to ensure its use in a wide range of applications. This solution should also show a post-critical ductile behaviour suitable enough to prevent the typical fragile fracture of glass structural elements. The most important effect of the pultruded profile is the contribution given in the post-critical phase, since it allows the cracked beam to transfer the stresses. Analytical modelling based on the load-deformation characteristics using simple calculations was performed in order to interpret the experimental results in a fast and simple way and to obtain more in-depth knowledge on the behaviour of the structural elements tested.