An experimental study on the failure and enhancement mechanism of bolt-strengthening GFRP T-joint subjected to tensile loading

Abstract The aim of this article is to investigate the failure and enhancement mechanism bolt-strengthening glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) T-joints under quasi-static tension. One-step molding technology based on vacuum-assisted resin infusion process carried out fabricate GFRP structures. Then, a special fixture constraint condition are set up take tensile test with high reliability. Moreover, it demonstrated that structures may decrease their bearing capacity, resulting in interlaminar delamination at corner region. Further, strengthen T-joints, bolts employed effectively prevent initiation propagation loading. At same time, as mechanisms revealed deeply, strengthening method optimized well.