Abstract
Abstract The axial compressive bearing capacity, failure modes, and failure mechanisms of carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum laminate (CARALL) columns with single-channel cross sections were studied in detail. In this study, two types of short CARALL specimens with a 5/4 configuration were first fabricated using 2024-T3 aluminum alloy and different fiber orientations ([0°/90°/0°]3, [45°/0°/−45°]3) via a pressure-molding thermal-curing forming process. The short CARALL columns were then subjected to static loading tests to determine their axial compressive behaviors in terms of ultimate bearing capacity and failure modes. Thereafter, the user-defined FORTRAN subroutine VUMAT, which is based on ABAQUS, was used to investigate the failure mechanism of the proposed CARALL columns. Meanwhile, based on the classic laminated panel mechanics theory, a theoretical method was proposed to predict the safe bearing capacity of the designed compressive CARALL columns. The results indicated that the ultimate failure of both types of short CARALL columns was a strength failure caused by the delamination of the layers. When the short CARALL columns were subjected to an axial compressive load, the fiber spread angle of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer prepregs in the laminate panels had a significant influence on the resistance to interlaminar delamination. A smaller fiber layer angle resulted in greater resistance to interlaminar delamination. Setting a certain number of fiber layers with angles between 0° and 45° could increase the toughness of the compression column member against interlaminar shear delamination at the initial stage. Comparisons of the experimental, numerical, and theoretical results demonstrated good agreement, indicating that the proposed theoretical method is feasible for predicting the safe bearing capacity of CARALL columns with a single-channel cross section and can be applied to the design of compressive laminate pillar components.
Highlights
The increasing requirements of advanced lightweight civil engineering structures have prompted researchers to develop new lightweight composite materials with excellent mechanical properties [1]
The axial compressive bearing capacity, failure modes, and failure mechanisms of carbon fiberreinforced aluminum laminate (CARALL) columns with single-channel cross sections were studied in detail
The short CARALL columns were subjected to static loading tests to determine their axial compressive behaviors in terms of ultimate bearing capacity and failure modes
Summary
The increasing requirements of advanced lightweight civil engineering structures have prompted researchers to develop new lightweight composite materials with excellent mechanical properties [1]. The present study focused on the axial compressive bearing capacity of short CARALL columns with a special channel cross section. Most of the existing research has focused on the axial compressive performances of glass fiber-reinforced aluminum laminate (GARALL) columns [32–45]. Because reliable prediction methods for the bearing capacity of compressive pillar members are of great importance for structural design and safety controls, specialized theoretical methods should be developed for short CARALL columns with channel cross sections. Based on the classic laminated panel mechanics theory, a theoretical method was proposed to predict the safe bearing capacity of the designed compressive columns, which could be used in the design and computation procedure of CARALL compressive columns with a single-channel cross section
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
