Mechanical properties of FRP-FW pipes

Abstract This paper presents an analytical approach for predicting the effective elastic moduli and breaking strength of FRP-FW pipes. The FW pipe was modelled as a laminate consisting of N laminae of unidirectional fibre composite. The elastic modulus of each lamina composed of aligned, continuous transversely isotropic fibres, and an isotropic matrix was derived based on the equivalent inclusion method of Eshelby. The effective stress-strain relation of the laminate was formulated assuming the plane stress state. The breaking strength of the laminate subjected to uniaxial tension or compression was estimated by applying the quadratic failure criterion proposed by Tsai and Wu. Numerical results were compared with experimental results obtained for CFRP-FW and GFRP-FW pipes. Good agreements were obtained both in Young's modulus and in breaking strength.