Roham Rafiee - Composites Research Laboratory, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, North Karegar St., Tehran ۱۴۳۹۹۵۷۱۳۱ Iran
Mohammad Reza Habibagahi - Composites Research Laboratory, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, North Karegar St., Tehran ۱۴۳۹۹۵۷۱۳۱ Iran

One of the most prevalent pipes used in the water and sewage transmission systems is GFRP pipe. These pipes are mostly buried underground and as a result they confront compressive transverse loading; therefore, the stiffness of pipe is a crucial parameter in designing GFRP pipes. The main objective of this study is to predict the stiffness of GFRP pipes subjected to compressive transverse loading as an indicator of pipe resistance against transverse loading. Firstly, an experimental study is performed to measure the stiffness of a composite pipe. GFRP pipe producers mainly use analytical techniques to estimate the stiffness, so an analytical modeling constructed on the basis of solid mechanics is evaluated afterward. Then the simulation of stiffness test is conducted using ABAQUS/CAE package using different elements. The effects of nonlinear geometry and nonlinear material behavior are considered. The results show that high level of accuracy can be achieved by proper selection of the element and performing nonlinear analysis.

Composites; Analytical modeling; Finite element analysis; Experimental analysis; Transverse loading