CIVIL RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR Wednesday 10th December 2014 1pm A401 – School of Engineering Pultruded FRP Composites for Modular Structural Construc7on Dr. Yu Bai, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia ABSTRACT Pultruded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites appear promising for civil structural construcMon because of their advantageous material properMes, including their light weight, high strength and corrosion resistance. In order to successfully implement these materials in civil construcMon, appropriate structural systems with saMsfactory structural rigidity and load capacity should be developed with consideraMon of the disMnct properMes of pultruded FRP materials, such as lower elasMc modulus and shear strength (in comparison to steel). ConstrucMon using such materials in a modular way will further transform a craP-­‐based, labour-­‐
intensive operaMon towards automated manufacturing with accelerated producMon. A modular FRP web-­‐flange sandwich system was developed at Monash for floor and slab applicaMons and experimental studies on the mechanical performance were introduced. ApplicaMons of pultruded FRP tubular members in space frame structures was also explored and a full scale modular assembly of space frame structures using FRP tubular members was completed and invesMgated experimentally and major results were presented. In addiMon, because pultruded FRP composites are relaMvely new construcMon materials, their structural performance under criMcal load condiMons must be understood, especially structural fire resistance and long-­‐term performance under harsh environments. Previous efforts made to understand such performances of pultruded FRP composites in structural level were included. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Dr Yu Bai is a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University. He received his Bachelor and Master degrees from Tsinghua Univeristy, Beijing, China. He joined the Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University aPer receiving his Ph.D from the Swiss Federal InsMtute of Technology Lausanne EPFL, Switzerland. Dr Yu Bai is an inaugural recipient of Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. His current research interests include composite structures, fiber-­‐reinforced materials and structures, modular structural design and construcMon, material and structural responses under criMcal load condiMons. This seminar is open to all and refreshments are provided. For more informa4on, contact Dr Stefano U4li by email at s.u4li@warwick.ac.uk