The bearing capacity performance of upvc pipe under axial compression

Abstract

The un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) is increasingly used in the construction industry because of its superior properties, particularly in greenhouses with UPVC as the skeleton. This study investigated the bearing capacities of UPVC pipes under axial compression. Eighteen UPVC pipe specimens with length-to-diameter ratios ranging from 24 to 45 were tested under axial compression. The failure modes and buckling resistances of the specimens were analysed. A finite element (FE) model was established to simulate the compressive behaviour of UPVC pipes, and the FE predictions were verified against the experimental results. Subsequently, extensive parametric studies were performed to analyse the effects of the diameter-to-thickness ratio, yield strength, and geometric imperfections on the overall stability of UPVC pipes under axial compression. The experimental and FE results were compared with the buckling curves obtained from the design codes for metallic material columns. Based on the test data and parametric analysis, a formulation of the buckling curves for UPVC pipes was proposed to predict the buckling performance of UPVC pipes better. These findings provide a basis for studying the mechanical performance of UPVC pipes subjected to axial compressive loading.