Comparative study of energy dissipation capacity of steel and glass fibre-reinforced polymer frames with bonded sleeve connections

• Published in: Journal of reinforced plastics and composites Vol. 36; no. 22; pp. 1665 - 1679
• Main Authors: Xiao, Xiao, Zhang, Zhujing, Bai, Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-11-2017
• Subjects: energy dissipation; bonded sleeve connection; finite element analysis; pultruded GFRP frame; Cyclic behaviour
• ISSN: 0731-6844; 1530-7964
• DOI: 10.1177/0731684417723714

This paper presents a comparative study on the energy dissipation capacity of one glass fibre-reinforced polymer frame with bonded sleeve connection and steel frames with bolted endplate connections. Experimentally measured moment-rotation behaviour of a typical bonded sleeve connection was employed to develop the joint model for the glass fibre-reinforced polymer frame. In order to reduce the effect of the different beam size on the overall frame behaviour, the size of the steel profiles was selected to be equal, less than and greater than glass fibre-reinforced polymer profile in terms of the bending stiffness. The moment–rotation response of bolted endplate connection was then theoretically determined through Mohammadi’s design model. The frame models were developed using 3D beam elements and nonlinear spring elements. Comparing the energy dissipation capacity between glass fibre-reinforced polymer and steel frames at connections and floors, it was found that although glass fibre-reinforced polymer members were lack of ductility, the glass fibre-reinforced polymer frame can give satisfactory energy dissipation capacity that is comparable to steel frames. The energy dissipation capacity of glass fibre-reinforced polymer frame can be induced by the yielding of steel endplate from bonded sleeve connection.