LAUSR

Fibre composite guardrails are increasingly being used to ensure safety of workers from fall-from-height incidents due to its high strength, high corrosion resistance and low maintenance. In this study, the structural behaviour of pultruded glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) guardrail was evaluated following AS1657-1992. GFRP guardrail systems mounted on top and side of a steel beam with different joint connectors are loaded horizontally to top of the guardrail post and to the middle of the guardrail member. The results showed that the guardrail system with joints connected with either polypin or rivets combined with epoxy exhibited 20% higher failure load and almost double the stiffness than those connected using polypin or rivets alone. The side-mounted guardrail failed due to failure of the base connector while the guardrail mounted on top of the beam failed at the joints indicating that the structural behaviour of GFRP guardrail system is affected mainly by the type of joints.