Short-Term Behavior and Design of Fiber-Reinforced Polymeric Slender Members under Axial Compression

Abstract

Presented in this paper are results of an experimental investigation pertaining to the short-term behavior of concentrically loaded fiber-reinforced polymeric composite slender members. Tested members had box and I-shape cross sections and were pultruded using a vinylester matrix containing flame retardant additives reinforced with E-glass roving and nonwoven mats. Material properties for each tested member are used in a limit state predictor equation to correlate the experimental and the predicted results. Design guidelines and a step-by-step example are also presented.