Buckling characteristics of pultruded glass fibre reinforced plastic columns under moment gradient

The authors present the results of 10 full-size tests designed to investigate the behaviour of eccentrically loaded columns of pultruded glass fibre reinforced plastic. The major axis tests were carried out on 203 × 203 × 9.53 mm wide flange profiles at a single column height of 4.8 m. The choice and magnitude of the moment gradients are described, together with details concerning the design and operation of a purpose-built test rig. Salient results are given for loads, deflections and strains, and conditions at failure are described. The results are assessed for the their relevance to the development of design procedures suitable for manuals or design codes.