A Probabilistic Model of the Unidirectional Tensile Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers for Structural Design

In this paper, a statistical analysis of the tensile strength of FRP composites is conducted. A relatively large experimental database including 58 datasets is first constructed, and the Normal, Lognormal, and Weibull distributions are fitted to the data using a tail-sensitive Anderson–Darling statistic as the measure of goodness of fit. Fitting results show that the Normal, Lognormal, and Weibull distributions can be used to model the tensile strength of FRP composites. Then, the characteristic value for the tensile strength of FRP composites at a fixed percentile is analyzed. It is found that the Weibull distribution results in a higher safety margin in comparison to either the Normal or the Lognormal distribution. When the experimental justification, the theoretical justification, as well as the design conservativeness are taken into consideration, the Weibull distribution is the most recommended distribution to model the tensile strength of FRP composites. Furthermore, a probabilistic model considering the statistical uncertainty for the tensile strength for FRP composites is proposed. It is believed that the statistical uncertainty can be modeled as a reduction factor, and the recommended value of such factor for engineering design practices is provided based on regression analysis.