Structures using FRP profiles can be designed with reference to the CNR-DT 205/2007 Technical Document, “Guide for the Design and Construction of Structures made of FRP Pultruded Elements”. Its use for design purposes is permitted by the Technical Standards for Construction (NTC) published in 2018 (Chapter 12).
Further guidance on the design of FRP structures can be found in the technical specification “Design of fibre-polymer composite structures”, UNI CEN/TS 19101, available on the UNI website and currently subject to a trial period and related feedback: this marks the start of the final step towards it becoming, to all intents and purposes, the Eurocode for the design of fibre-reinforced polymer composite structures.
FRP structures are sized using the limit state method in the linear elastic range, taking into account the load combinations (paragraph 2.5.3, Combination of actions, of the Ministerial Decree of 17 January 2018) resulting from permanent loads, live loads, snow load, wind load and seismic action.
Thanks to their physical and geometric characteristics, M.M.’s FRP profiles integrate perfectly with steel accessories, usually AISI 316 stainless steel. For the design of the latter, connection checks on the FRP are carried out in accordance with the aforementioned CNR-DT 205/2007, relying on the usual Eurocode 3 and NTC 2018 for the steel-side checks.
