Influences of Concentric and Eccentric Loads on Buckling of Fixed-End Supported Pultruded FRP Channel Beams
This paper presents the results of the experimental research performed on the pultruded FRP (PFRP) channel beams subjected to transversely concentric and eccentric loads. The objectives of the research work are to investigate their structural behaviors and to determine the critical buckling moments and modes of failure of the beams with various span-to-depth ratios and eccentricities. Pultruded beams are fixed-end supported at both ends for major and minor-axis flexure. The beam specimens have the cross-sectional dimension of 102×29×6 mm with span-to-depth ratios, ranging from 20 to 40. A total of 40 mono-symmetric section tests were performed. The effects of vertical load position through the cross-section were studied. Also, shear center position with concentric load and three different eccentricities were investigated ranging from 0 to-3e. The specimens were tested to final buckling. Based upon the results of this study, it is found that the load versus mid-span vertical deflection relationships of the beams are linear up to the failure. On the contrary, the load versus mid-span lateral deflection relationships are geometrically nonlinear. The general mode of failure is the flexural-torsional buckling. The eccentrically loaded specimens are failed at buckling loads lower than their concentric counterparts. Overall, the critical buckling moment decreases as the magnitude of eccentricity increases. Additionally, it is noticed thatL/dratio increases, the critical buckling moment is decreased.