A numerical investigation into the response of free end tubular composite poles subjected to axial and lateral loads

摘要

This paper presents a numerical investigation of cantilevered glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubular poles subjected to lateral and axial loads. A 3D finite element analysis was conducted to establish the lateral load-deflection responses under different axial loads and the axial load-bending moment interaction curves at ultimate. The model accounts for geometric nonlinearities and the composite laminate structure. Failure modes were established based on either material failure according to the Tsai-Wu failure criterion, or stability failure. The model was validated by using experimental results. A parametric study was then carried out on poles with various angle-ply and cross-ply laminates as well as different diameter-to-thickness (D/t) and length-to-diameter (L/D) ratios. The study showed that the reduction in axial strength as (L/D) ratio increases becomes more severe as (D/t) ratio is reduced. The GFRP laminate structure has a considerable effect on axial and flexural strengths of the poles for certain (D/t) ratios. It was also shown that axial load-moment interaction curves are generally linear. Increasing the fraction of longitudinal fibers in cross-ply laminates or reducing the fiber angle with the longitudinal direction in angle-ply laminates results in a larger interaction curve. A simplified design approach for the poles has been proposed.