Experimental and statistical analysis of flexural behavior of glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) molded grating panels

Abstract

In this study, the full section of flexural and shear modulus of molded gratings made of glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) have been statistically and experimentally analyzed. Three different gratings with slab height (h) of 25 mm, 30 mm and 38 mm were taken. The flexural (E) and shear modulus (G) of molded gratings were determined from the three-point bending tests by taking different grating span (L) - slab height (h) ratios ranging from 4 to 20 by four increments. Shear modulus was calculated from the test data by considering Timoshenko's shear deformation beam theory (TBT). The flexural and shear modulus of the molded gratings were determined with a reliability of 99% by Weibull distribution. The results showed that E and G obtained from the Weibull analysis take their maximum values at h38 and h30, respectively. However, maximum mean values of E and G obtained experimentally are at h25 and at h38, respectively.