Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes filled with concrete offer a variety of advantages as an innovative structural system. This paper describes the experimental program and test results of ten beams and nine short columns tested at the University of Manitoba. The study included testing of hollow and totally-filled tubes, as well as partially-filled tubes. Concrete-filled steel tubes were tested as control specimens. The study showed that strength and ductility of beams are greatly improved by filling the tubes with concrete and higher strength-to-weight ratios are achieved by providing a voided concrete core. GFRP shells provide significant concrete confinement in short columns, which improve strength and ductility. Central voids in columns reduce the confinement effectiveness, yet it still can be improved if the void is maintained using an inner GFRP shell.
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