SEMI-RIGID CONNECTIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE SWAY RESPONSE OF PULTRUDED GRP COLUMNS IN LOW-RISE FRAME STRUCTURES

Closed-form solutions for the sway-deflection and end rotations of shear deformable columns with semi-rigid end connections are derived. The former expressions are used to define performance indices, which quantify the increase in sway-deflection, etc., relative to the rigidly clamped column benchmark, and the latter are used to quantify the required joint rotation capacities. Index values, computed for two sizes of pultruded GRP WF-section column using test data for bolted web and web and flange cleat end connections, show, generally, that the end connection stiffnesses are insufficient to allow sway-bracing to be dispensed with. However, corresponding computations for end connection rotation show that both web and web and flange cleat connections have adequate rotational capacity.