Influence of geometrical imperfections on local buckling of GFRP plates in civil engineering

This paper presents the results of an investigation of buckling of GFRP plates with initial geometricalimperfections as attempt to build a set of buckling curves for this material. Rectangular plates of variousslenderness are analysed using nonlinear Finite Element Analysis in Abaqus. Buckling curves showingthe reduction of compression strength due to buckling based on plate slenderness are derived. Theresults obtained from the progressive damage analysis of imperfect plates are compared to linearbuckling criterion that is used as a base for buckling strength calculations in latest design guidance. Itwas found that the slender plates have stable post buckling behaviour and are therefore able to carryloads higher than the critical load. For the stocky plates, the failure loads are lower than critical loads.