| This thesis presents the results of an experimental and analytical investigation regarding the creep behavior of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymeric (FRP) components subject to sustained loading in the form of eccentric compression in one case and flexure in another case.; Under the effect of sustained eccentric axial loading, six component creep tests were performed at different axial load/eccentricity values. The duration of these tests was 2,000 hours (90 days), during which the mid-height lateral deflections of the components were recorded continually. Three other component creep tests were also conducted for a duration of 8,700 hours (1 year) to examine the response of pultruded members under the effects of sustained shear and flexure.; In addition to the experimental works, analytical formulations for predicting the creep deflections of pultruded members subjected to sustained loading were developed based on the Schapery's quasielastic method for the linear viscoelastic stress analysis. The material properties used in the analytical formulations can be either experimentally obtained or analytically predicted from models based on the micromechanics of laminated composites. |
