Design and analysis of composite structures with interlaced fibres

Design and analysis of fibre-reinforced polymer beams formed by girders spaced by skew ribs with interlaced joints were investigated. Equivalent tension, bending and shear stiffness were predicted. The influence of mechanical and geometrical parameters on the derived formulae was studied. The effect of the rib angle was demonstrated. An increase in the rib angle leads to a small decrease in tension and bending stiffness. The shear stiffness is highly sensitive to all the geometrical parameters, including the rib angle. Experimental tests carried out in four point bending were used to assess the performance of alternative designs.