Transverse low-velocity impact behaviors of pultruded carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer rods with tensile preloads: Experiment and simulation

Extensive research has been conducted on the replacement of steel cables with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) cables to eliminate steel corrosion and self-weight problems in cable-supported bridges. The potential low-velocity impact (e.g., vehicle collision) may cause CFRP cables to experience catastrophic failure. However, little attention has been paid to the low-velocity impact on a pultruded composite rod. This article focused on understanding and modeling the transverse impact behaviors of the pultruded CFRP rod with tensile preloads (0–0.58 preload ratios). Two damage models were proposed for predicting these behaviors: one combining the fiber/matrix damage model with a cohesive zone model (Model A), and the other employing only the fiber/matrix damage model (Model B). The short-beam shear test method was proposed to identify the intended interlaminar debonding location when employing a cohesive zone model. Both proposed models were validated against the experimental results, and their applicability was given. It was found that the tensile preloading presented a ‘stiffening effect’ and changed the rod from shear stress-dominated failure to tensile stress-dominated failure.