Test on pultruded GFRP I-section under web crippling

This paper presents the details of experimental and numerical research study on web crippling property of pultruded GFRP I-section under concentrated web crippling loadings. A total of 12 pultruded GFRP I-section with different loading conditions and bearing lengths was tested. The experimental scheme, failure modes and load-displacement curves were also presented. The investigation was focused on the effects of different loading condition and bearing length on web crippling ultimate capacity and ductility of pultruded GFRP I-section. The failure mode comprised longitudinal bending main crack, bending wrinkling cracks and shear cracks. Specimens with interior bearing load had slightly higher ultimate strength and greater deformation capacity than those of specimens with end bearing load. The ultimate strengths usually decreased with the increase of the bearing length except IG condition. Finite element models were developed to numerically simulate the tests performed in the experimental investigations by using commercial ABAQUS software. Based on the results of the parametric study, a number of design formulas proposed in this paper can be successfully employed as a design rule for predicting web crippling ultimate capacity of pultruded GFRP I-section under four loading and boundary conditions by using single parameter analysis.