Improved End Bearing Capacities of Sharp-corner Aluminum Tubular Sections With Cfrp Strengthening

Web crippling is the major failure mode of thin-walled members when they are subjected to concentrated loading. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is found to be promising for strengthening metallic structural members. This paper reports improved web-crippling capacity of sharp-corner aluminum tubular sections: rectangular hollow section (RHS) and square hollow section (SHS), by attaching CFRP to their webs. Twenty four specimens were tested with four CFRP strengthening configurations applied on each of six different aluminum RHS and SHS sections. Significant increase in load-carrying capacity was obtained. Further comparison is made between CFRP strengthened aluminum tubular sections and cold-formed steel counterparts in respect of strengthening efficiency. Underlying mechanism of different failure modes and strengthening efficiencies of various strengthening configurations are discussed with the assistance of FEM simulation.