Title: Analysis of a Novel Thin-Walled Concrete Pole Centrifugally Cast Into a Fiberglass Tube

Author(s): A. Fam and Y. Qasrawi

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 260

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 89-104

Keywords: centrifugally cast; flexure; FRP tube; model; pole; spun cast; thin-wall

DOI: 10.14359/56627

Date: 6/1/2009

Abstract:
This paper presents an analytical model developed to predict the flexural response of a novel thin-walled pole comprising centrifugally cast concrete into a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) circular tube. The tube acts as a permanent form and at the same time is effectively considered as reinforcement for the pole by means of layers of fibers oriented in the longitudinal and circumferential directions. The model combines cracked-section analysis, the classical lamination theory of composites and non-linear extended strain softening concrete models, through a layer-bylayer approach to account for the inherent complex geometry of the section. The model was verified using experimental results and showed good agreement. It was then used in a parametric study to establish the optimum concrete wall thickness for FRP tubes of different proportions of fibers in the longitudinal and circumferential directions as well as tubes of different wall thicknesses. It was shown that the optimum concrete wall thickness is highly dependent on the FRP tube composition. It increases as the fraction of longitudinal fibers increases, or as the wall thickness of the tube increases.