Section properties and buckling behavior of pultruded FRP profiles

Experimental determination of the flexural and torsional properties of pultruded FRP profiles, based on full section and coupon tests, is described. Results for a range of I-profiles indicates that transvcrse shear moduli. determined from full section three point bending tests, are influenced significantly by localised deformation at the supports. Closed form solutions for the influence of shear deformation on global flexural, torsional and lateral buckling Of pultruded FRP profiles have been developed. Parametric Studies for a range of I-profiles indicate that shear deformation can reduce flexural and torsional buckling loads by up to 10%. For wide flange I-profiles pre-buckling displacements can increase lateral buckling moments by more than 20% while the influence of shear deformation is relatively minor.