Energy dissipation in adhesive and bolted pultruded GFRP double-lap joints under cyclic loading

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structures, due to their low mass, are valuable alternatives to traditional steel or concrete structures in seismic areas. However, to resist seismic actions, FRP structures must be able to dissipate a significant amount of inelastic energy. Since FRP materials are brittle, this dissipation must occur in the joints. Monotonic tension and cyclic tension–compression experiments were thus performed on adhesive and bolted double-lap joints composed of pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles; a flexible adhesive was used in the adhesive joints. A significant amount of energy was dissipated in the adhesive joints at lower and medium displacement rates through viscoelastic friction and damage in the adhesive, while almost no energy dissipation occurred at the highest rate. The energy in the bolted joints was dissipated by progressive crushing and shear-out failures in the inner laminates. Although the dimensions and monotonic strength of the adhesive and the bolted joints were similar, the former dissipated significantly more energy at the two lower applied displacement rates. The obtained results can contribute to the seismic design of inelastic joints in FRP structures.