Analysis of tensile behavior of CFRP strand cables with various structures

This article presents experimental analysis and related discussion on tensile behavior of CFRP strand cables with various structures, never studied in detail hitherto. The influence of structure itself and helix angle on the tensile behavior under quasi-static loading of CFRP strand cable is investigated. While the structure of the cable does not much affect its tensile properties, too large a helix angle reduces the cable tensile strength, chord modulus and absorbed energy. The reduction of the strength may be attributed obviously to shear stress induced in helical strings of the cable. A newly developed strain measuring system works successfully for very precise determination of small strains up to break in such stiff materials. Notable characteristics are also specified as failure criterion for the unique helical array of CFRP.