An
innovated element, Al(aluminum alloy) pipe wrapped with CFRP (carbon fiber
reinforced polymer), is presented
for large-span structures and special
structures in favor of their common advantages of light-weight and
corrosionresistance. Outside CFRP layers can enhance strength and stiffness of
Al pipes for compression, while Al pipes provide convenient and strong
connections between elements. Two sets of composite pipes were tested. Twelve
specimens in Set 1 are short pipes, whose bearing strength increments with CFRP
layer
numbers varying were investigated. And ten specimens in Set 2 with large
slenderness and different CFRP layer numbers were tested to investigate their
buckling load-
capacity. It was shown that the bearing strength and the buckling
strength were enhanced significantly to the pure Al pipes. Their stiffness and
deformation capacity were improved also.