M. Elchalakani
Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
M.R. Bambach
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a plastic mechanism analysis for circular hollow section
(CHS) tubes strengthened using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) deforming
in an axi-symmetric (elephant foot) collapse mode under large deformation axial
loading. The collapse proceeded progressively by folding about three
concentrated hinge lines and hoop extension of the shell. An expression for the
plastic collapse axial load was obtained by equating the total energy absorbed
in bending and extension to the external work carried out during deformation of
the tube. The newly derived mathematical model takes into account the
contribution of the CFRP towards energy absorption during collapse. Comparisons
of the predicted instantaneous post-buckling collapse loads with those obtained
from experiments carried out elsewhere show good agreement.