Numerical investigation of novel FRP composites towards high-strength, large-deformation, and tensile-behavior designable properties

Abstract

A FRP composite consisting of FRP skins, 3D printed inner cores and twisted knots has been developed to achieve low-density, high-strength, large-deformation, and tensile-behavior designable properties. Desired nonlinear responses could be achieved by loading FRP skins to plastically deform inner cores with carefully designed configurations. However, current investigations provided few computational tools for determining the tensile behavior of the composite with various core configurations. In this study, a two-dimensional finite element (FE) model has been calibrated for the composite having various brace thicknesses, shell thicknesses, core spans, core heights, brace angles, and core numbers. Predictions were compared with experimental measurements in terms of entire stress-strain shapes, ultimate stresses and strains. Good correlation between predictions and corresponding measurements validate the reliability of the proposed FE model. By using the proposed FE model, a more sophisticated and efficient FRP composite could be developed upon increasingly updated demands.