Abstract: To improve the bearing capacity and engineering adaptability of basalt fiber wrapped composite pipes, the mechanical properties and failure modes of basalt fiber wrapped composite pipes under radial loads were studied based on experiments and numerical simulations. Effects of winding angle, single-layer thickness, diameter to thickness ratio, and other structural parameters on the composite pipe’s failure mechanism were discussed. The results showed that the failure modes of composite pipes under radial compression are matrix tensile damage and fiber tensile damage. The failure zone gradually spreads from the plastic stranded wire area to the entire pipeline as the radial compression displacement increases. The maximum radial bearing capacity and total energy absorption of the composite pipe increase with the increasing of fiber winding angle but decrease with the increasing of diameter to thickness ratio. Increasing the single layer thickness can improve the bearing capacity of composite pipes but result in the plastic hinge of the composite pipe bearing a greater bending moment during deformation, causing the pipe section gradually change from an elliptical shape to a “glasses” shape. On the contrary, it will cause the pipe to change in a “flat” shape.

Key words: basalt fiber, composite pipe, radial compression, failure mode, bearing capacity