Effect of eccentric loading on the stability and load-carrying capacity of thin-walled composite profiles with top-hat section

Abstract

The paper investigates the influence of eccentric compressive load on the buckling, post-buckling and load-carrying capacity of thin-walled top-hat section composite columns. The columns were made of a CFRP composite material with a symmetrical arrangement of the layers by the autoclave technique. The scope of the presented study involved performing experimental tests on actual profiles as well as numerical calculations using the FEM analysis in ABAQUS® software. The experimental tests were carried out in the full range of loading, until the structure’s failure (post-buckling equilibrium paths and acoustic emission signals were measured). Regarding to FEM analysis, a nonlinear calculations using Newton-Raphson method were made. The damage initiation of the composite material was estimated based on Hashin’s theory, whereas damage evolution was described by the energy criterion (progressive failure analysis were used). The numerical results of eccentric compressive load on buckling and load-carrying capacity of composite columns were in good agreement with the experimental results.