Effects of Open-Hole and Reinforcement on the Bearing Performance of the Plain-Woven Fabric Composite I-Section Beams under Shear Load

In this article, experiments and finite-element (FE) analyses have been conducted in order to study the effects of open-hole and reinforcement on the buckling and failure of the plain-woven fabric (PWF) composite I-section beams under shear load. With the shear experiments, the buckling and failure characteristics of the PWF composite beams have been obtained, and experimental results of the beams in perfect conditions are compared with the results from the specimens with open-hole and reinforcement in the web region. FE analyses for the composite beams are then carried out with the assistance of the multi-scale method proposed for the PWF composites. With the comparison between the experimental and numerical results, the composite beams’ FE models and the utilized calculation methods are proved to be feasible. According to the parametric study based on the validated models and the multi-scale methods, it is found that the existence of the open-hole decreases the flexural rigidity of the beams’ web region and introduces the stress concentration, which further reduces the structural stability and the shear carrying capacity of the composite beams. With the effects of restraining the structural off-plane deformation and relieving the hole-edge stress concentration, the intercalation reinforcement could effectively improve the bearing performance of the PWF composite beams with open-holes.