Taxonomy of fibre mat misalignments in pultruded GFRP bridge decks

This paper presents a taxonomy of the fibre mat misalignments found in multi-celled pultruded GFRP deck, based on high-resolution images polished cross sections. A dual approach to misalignment is presented, one morphology, other grounded manufacturing provenance misalignments. Each characterised using, alternately, Gaussian function, angle its steepest tangent, length and height. Some scatter type severity was within web-flange junctions. The deck’s top flange be thicker regions containing double-backed or flipped layer, which probably due displacement internal mandrels during pultrusion. Analysis shows that as wrinkle amplitude increases, there switch from failure at constant load interlaminar rapidly decreasing load. Finally, recommendations are made for minimising manufacturing.