Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental investigation of the load–deformation behaviour of pultruded GFRP modular and custom safety barriers
AU - Turvey, Geoffrey John
PY - 2015/12/1
Y1 - 2015/12/1
N2 - Two two-bay pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) post and rail safety barriers have been fabricated. One, a modular barrier, was fabricated from circular cross-section tubes, bolted sheet moulded composite (SMC) two-part multi-way connectors and bases. The other, a custom barrier, was fabricated from three profiles: square cross-section tubular posts, a circular cross-section tubular knee rail and a C-section hand rail. Rivets connected the hand rail to the tops of the posts and bolted bases connected the posts to the foundation. The continuous knee rail was located by means of holes in the posts’ walls. Both barriers were loaded incrementally up to the general duty load applied to the hand rail and then unloaded. Their load–deformation responses were monitored and both barriers were able to support the general duty load undamaged. After unloading the maximum residual deflection of the hand rail was about 5 mm. The barriers’ mean transverse stiffnesses were evaluated and the custom barrier’s stiffness was about 46% greater than that of the modular barrier. The custom barrier was re-tested up to the heavy duty load and was able to support the load without visible signs of damage.
AB - Two two-bay pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) post and rail safety barriers have been fabricated. One, a modular barrier, was fabricated from circular cross-section tubes, bolted sheet moulded composite (SMC) two-part multi-way connectors and bases. The other, a custom barrier, was fabricated from three profiles: square cross-section tubular posts, a circular cross-section tubular knee rail and a C-section hand rail. Rivets connected the hand rail to the tops of the posts and bolted bases connected the posts to the foundation. The continuous knee rail was located by means of holes in the posts’ walls. Both barriers were loaded incrementally up to the general duty load applied to the hand rail and then unloaded. Their load–deformation responses were monitored and both barriers were able to support the general duty load undamaged. After unloading the maximum residual deflection of the hand rail was about 5 mm. The barriers’ mean transverse stiffnesses were evaluated and the custom barrier’s stiffness was about 46% greater than that of the modular barrier. The custom barrier was re-tested up to the heavy duty load and was able to support the load without visible signs of damage.
KW - Deformation
KW - GFRP
KW - Loads
KW - Pultrusions
KW - Safety barriers
KW - Testing
U2 - 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.07.072
DO - 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.07.072
M3 - Journal article
VL - 133
SP - 659
EP - 669
JO - Composite Structures
JF - Composite Structures
SN - 0263-8223
ER -