Press Releases | June 14, 2022

New design method for fiber reinforced polymer buildings

The research team (led by Professor Yukihiro Matsumoto) formed by Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Toyohashi University of Technology and Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS) proposed and demonstrated a method for improving the dynamic behavior of bolted connections by using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) materials. As pultruded GFRP materials used in construction applications have reinforced fiber directions aligned along the axis of the member axis, bolted connections are fragile and at a disadvantage in design. The research team demonstrated that a noticeable increase in bearing strength can be realized by pasting a thin GFRP plate, which uses a multiaxial base material molded by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding which enables high-quality molding, to the bolted connection. The research team also demonstrated that this method could improve the fragile fracture behavior of the joint connections. The results of this study will enable safer, more secure and lighter building structures with longer lifespans to be designed.

Full text: Aiming to improve joint connection technologies for light-weight and high-strength structures
TUT website: Press release