Modular fibre reinforced polymer composites assembly for building wall systems

Overview

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, due to their advantages such as light weight and high strength, excellent corrosion and fatigue resistance, have received increasing interests worldwide for the use as load-bearing components in structural applications especially for prefabricated modular buildings. The utilization of FRP composites for structural applications requires comprehensive understanding on their mechanical performance. In this study, the mechanical performance of FRP members including columns and sandwich assemblies are investigated for compressive loading scenarios. The results from above studies may broaden the understanding of the mechanical performance of GFRP columns and sandwich assemblies and may benefit future structural implementations of FRP composites members into modular assembly of prefabricated buildings especially for column and wall applications.

Key outcomes

GFRP web flange sandwich assemblies have been developed consisting of two GFRP panels and two SHS columns in between using mechanical bolting or adhesive bonding. Their mechanical performance is investigated through concentric compression experiments. The effects of different connection methods (mechanical bolting and adhesive bonding) and the spacings between two SHS sections on the failure modes and load-bearing capacities are clarified and further compared with results from analytical formulations. Numerical analysis on such GFRP sandwich assemblies with bolted or bonded connections has been carried out using validated FE approach. Detailed parametric studies based on the validated FE analysis are performed and the effects from major design parameters including the dimensions of GFRP SHSs, GFRP panel thickness, the spacing between two SHSs, initial imperfections, and material properties of GFRP SHSs and panels on the overall mechanical performance of the sandwich assemblies are thoroughly examined.

Research team

  • Lei Xie
  • Prof Yu Bai
  • Prof Xiao-Ling Zhao