ABSTRACT
Composite I- and box beams of several different lengths were fabricated with open moulds with a hot press. Their mechanical behaviour in three-point bending was evaluated both experimentally and analytically. Major manufacturing issues such as laminate consolidation, joint reinforcement of I-section, ply discontinuity, laminate symmetry and joint number in box section were examined. They were not found to affect the sectional flexural modulus and the latter was in good agreement with the predicted. The sectional shear modulus could not be properly estimated experimentally due to limited web in-plane shear. The joint reinforcement and/or segment laminate symmetry did not have any significant effect on the flexural strength due to the substantial laminate thickness and to small length-to-depth ratios. It was found that the ultimate failures were initiated at the bent fillet regions.
