Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Strengthening of Multi-bolted Connections in Pultruded GFRP by Glass Fiber Sheets: An Experimental Study

  • Published:
Applied Composite Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The capacity of connection in pultruded glass fiber reinforcement polymers (PGFRP) is usually considered a significant factor in the design of the composite structure. Pasting glass fiber sheets (GFS) can be used to strengthen new structures or enhance existing PGFRP connections' serviceability. This study presented experimental results when a bolted connection in PGFRP was strengthened by glass fiber sheets (GFS). There were 72 specimens of multi-bolted in the connection strength experiment. The test parameter was divided into three series of GFS types that were made from woven roving laminate or chop strand mat. The specimens were also constructed from other parameters: end distance and the number of bolts. The strengthening PGFRP connection by GFS resulted in up to 177% increase in the capacity in compare with non-strengthening connection. On the other hand, the equations used to estimate the joint strength after being strengthened by GFS were proposed. The method's effectiveness and suggested calculating formula can provide to designers trying to enhance PGFRP multi-bolted connections.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Balsamo, A., Coppola, L., Zaffaroni, P.: FRP in construction: applications, advantages, barriers and perspectives. In: Composites in construction: a reality, pp. 58–64. American Society of Civil Engineers (2001). https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/40596%28264%297

  2. Frigione, M., Lettieri, M.: Durability issues and challenges for material advancements in FRP employed in the construction industry. Polymers. 10, 247 (2018). https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/10/3/247

  3. Bank, L.C.: Composites for construction: structural design with FRP materials. John Wiley & Sons (2006). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470121429

  4. Saleem, M.A., et al.: Recent developments in the prefabricated bridge deck systems. Case. Stud. Constr. Mater. 15, e00750 (2021). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509521002655

  5. Li, Y.-F., Badjie, S., Chen, W.W., Chiu, Y.-T.: Case study of first all-GFRP pedestrian bridge in Taiwan. Case. Stud. Constr. Mater. 1, 83–95 (2014). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509514000138

  6. Kim, Y.J.: State of the practice of FRP composites in highway bridges. Eng. Struct. 179, 1–8 (2019). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141029618311520?via%3Dihub

  7. Green, A., Bisarnsin, T., Love, E.A.: Pultruded reinforced plastics for civil engineering structural applications. J. Reinf. Plast. Compos. 13, 942–951 (1994). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/073168449401301008

  8. Bank LC (1989) Properties of pultruded fiber. Transp. Res. Rec. 1223 H7 (1989). https://trid.trb.org/view/308507

  9. El Damatty, A.A., Abushagur, M., Youssef, M.A.: Rehabilitation of composite steel bridges using GFRP plates. Appl. Compos. Mater. 12(5), 309–325 (2005). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10443-005-2730-x

  10. Siddika, A., Al Mamun, M.A., Ferdous, W., Rayed, A.: Performances, challenges and opportunities in strengthening reinforced concrete structures by using FRPs–A state-of-the-art review. Eng. Fail. Anal. 111, 104480 (2020). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1350630719311884

  11. Shin, Y.H., Yoong, Y.Y., Hejazi, F., Saifulnaz, M.R.R.: Review on pultruded FRP structural design for building construction. IOP. Conf. Ser. Earth. Environ. Sci. 357, 012006 (2019). https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/357/1/012006

  12. Zhou, C., et al.: Comparative study on the tensile mechanical behavior of GFRP bars under and after high temperature exposure. Case. Stud. Constr. Mater. 16, e00905 (2022). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509522000377

  13. Bank, L.C., Mosallam, A.S., McCoy, G.T.: Design and performance of connections for pultruded frame structures. J. Reinf. Plast. Compos. 13, 199–212 (1994). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/073168449401300302

  14. Turvey, G.J.: Bolted connections in PFRP structures. Prog. Struct. Eng. Mater. 2, 146–156 (2000). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1528-2716(200004/06)2:2%3C146::AID-PSE18%3E3.0.CO;2-0

  15. Hassan, N.K., Mohamedien, M.A., Rizkalla, S.H.: Multibolted joints for GFRP structural members. J. Compos. Constr. 1(1), 3–9 (1997). https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0268(1997)1:1(3)

  16. Mosallam, A.: Design guide for FRP composite connections. American Society of Civil Engineers (2011). https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784406120

  17. Coelho, A.M.G., Mottram, J.T.: A review of the behaviour and analysis of bolted connections and joints in pultruded fibre reinforced polymers. Mater. Des. 74, 86–107 (2015). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261306915000576

  18. Feo, L., Marra, G., Mosallam, A.: Stress analysis of multi-bolted joints for FRP pultruded composite structures. Compos. Struct. 94, 3769–3780 (2012). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0263822312003030?via%3Dihub

  19. Russo, S.: On failure modes and design of multi-bolted FRP plate in structural joints. Compos. Struct. 218, 27–38 (2019). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0263822318347305?via%3Dihub

  20. Ascione, F., Feo, L., Maceri, F.: On the pin-bearing failure load of GFRP bolted laminates: an experimental analysis on the influence of bolt diameter. Compos. B. Eng. 41, 482–490 (2010). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359836810000612?via%3Dihub

  21. Prabhakaran, R., Robertson, J.: An experimental investigation of load-sharing in a multi-bolt pultruded composite joint. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Composites in Infrastructure National Science Foundation, Tuscon, AZ, USA, 5–7 Jan 1998

  22. Cooper, C., Turvey, G.: Effects of joint geometry and bolt torque on the structural performance of single bolt tension joints in pultruded GRP sheet material. Compos. Struct. 32, 217–226 (1995). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0263822395000712?via%3Dihub

  23. Wang, Y.: Bearing behavior of joints in pultruded composites. J. Compos. Mater. 36, 2199–2216 (2002). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0021998302036018535

  24. Hassan, N.K., Mohamedien, M.A., Rizkalla, S.H.: Multibolted joints for GFRP structural members. J. Compos. Constr. 1, 3–9 (1997). https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%291090-0268%281997%291%3A1%283%29

  25. Wang, P.: Structural integrity of bolted joints for pultruded GRP profiles. University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK (2004). (Ph.D. Thesis)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Abd-El-Naby, S., Hollaway, L.: The experimental behaviour of bolted joints in pultruded glass/ polyester material. Part 1:Single-bolt joints. Composites. 24, 531–538 (1993). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/001043619390266B?via%3Dihub

  27. Mottram, J.T., Turvey, G.J.: Physical test data for the appraisal of design procedures for bolted joints in pultruded FRP structural shapes and systems. Prog. Struct. Eng. Mater. 5, 195–222 (2003). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pse.154

  28. Correia, J.R., et al.: Mechanical behaviour of pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer composites at elevated temperature: experiments and model assessment. Compos. Struct. 98, 303–313 (2013). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263822312005521

  29. Mazzuca, P., et al.: Influence of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced polymer laminates produced by vacuum infusion. Constr. Build. Mater. 345, 128340 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. American Composites Manufactures Association: Pre-standard for load & resistance factor design (LRFD) of pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) structures, vol. 14. ACMA, Arlington, VA (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ascione, L., et al.: Prospect for new guidance in the design of FRP. EC Joint Research Centre, Ispra (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nhut, P.V., Yoresta, F.S., Kitane, Y., Hashimoto, K., Matsumoto, Y.: On the strengthening of pultruded GFRP connections using glass fiber sheets: a study on the influence of bolt diameter. Appl. Compos. Mater. 29(2), 651–681 (2022). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10443-021-09972-1

  33. Viet, N.P., Yoresta, F.S., Kitane, Y., Hashimoto, K., Matsumoto, Y.: Improving the shear strength of bolted connections in pultruded GFRP using glass fiber sheets. Compos. Struct. 255, 112896 (2021). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0263822320328221

  34. Nhut, P.V., Tran, Q.D., Matsumoto, Y.: Pin-bearing connection strength of single-bolted pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer profiles strengthened by glass fiber sheet. Polym. Compos. 43(8), 5011–5030 (2022). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pc.26774

  35. Tran, Q.D., Nhut, P.V., Matsumoto, Y.: Multi-bolted connection for pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer’s structure: a study on strengthening by multiaxial glass fiber sheets. Polymers. 14(8), 1561 (2022). https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/8/1561

  36. Dastin, S.: Repairing advanced composite materials. Mach. Des. 58(4), 86–90 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Rosner, C.N.: Single-bolted connections for orthotropic fibre-reinforced composite structural members. University of Manitoba (1992). https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/bitstream/handle/1993/18684/Rosner_Single-bolted_connections.pdf?sequence=1(MS thesis)

  38. Hart-Smith, L.J.: Design and analysis of bolted and riveted joints in fibrous composite structures. In: Recent advances in structural joints and repairs for composite materials, pp. 211–254. Springer, Dordrecht (2003). https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-017-0329-1_7

  39. Hassan, N.K.: Evaluation of multi-bolted connections for GFRP members. ASCE (1994). https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/bitstream/handle/1993/18684/Rosner_Single-bolted_connections.pdf?sequence=1 (Diss. Ph. D. dissertation)

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Innovative Asia, Research Support Grant for supported this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Aichi, 441-8580, Japan

    Tran Quang Duc, Phan Viet Nhut & Yukihiro Matsumoto

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Technology and Education-The University of Danang, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Phan Viet Nhut

Authors
  1. Tran Quang Duc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Phan Viet Nhut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yukihiro Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tran Quang Duc.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duc, T.Q., Nhut, P.V. & Matsumoto, Y. Strengthening of Multi-bolted Connections in Pultruded GFRP by Glass Fiber Sheets: An Experimental Study. Appl Compos Mater 30, 833–856 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-023-10117-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-023-10117-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation