• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.295-307
• /
• 2022

The objective of this research is to study experimentally the behavior of stiffened steel tubes (CFSTs). Considered parameters are stiffening methods by through-bolts or shear connectors with different configurations. In addition, the effect of global (ratio between length to diameter) and local (proportion between diameter to thickness) slenderness ratios are investigated. Load application either applied on steel only or both steel and concrete is studied as well. Case of loading on steel only happens when concrete inside the column shrinks. The purpose of the research is to improve the behavior of CFSTs by load transfer between them and different stiffening methods. A parametric experimental study that incorporates thirty-three specimens is carried out to highlight the impact of those parameters. Different outputs are recorded for every specimen such as load capacities, vertical deflections, longitudinal strains, and hoop strains. Two modes of failure occur, yielding and global buckling. Shear connectors and through-bolts improve the ultimate load by up to 5% for sections loaded at steel with different studied global slenderness and local slenderness equal 63.5. Meanwhile, shear connectors or through bolts increase the ultimate load by up to 6% for global slenderness up to 15.75 for sections loaded on composite with local slenderness equals 63.50. Recommendations for future design code development are outlined.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.309-324
• /
• 2022

The post-fire elastic stiffness and performance of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns containing recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has rarely been addressed, particularly in terms of material properties. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the modulus of elasticity of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (RACFST) stub columns following thermal loading. The test data were employed to model and assess the elastic modulus of circular RACFST stub columns subjected to axial loading after exposure to elevated temperatures. The length/diameter ratio of the specimens was less than three to prevent the sensitivity of overall buckling for the stub columns. The gene expression programming (GEP) method was employed for the model development. The GEP model was derived based on a comprehensive experimental database of heated and non-heated RACFST stub columns that have been properly gathered from the open literature. In this study, by using specifications of 149 specimens, the variables were the steel section ratio, applied temperature, yielding strength of steel, compressive strength of plain concrete, and elastic modulus of steel tube and concrete core (RAC). Moreover, parametric and sensitivity analyses were also performed to determine the contribution of different effective parameters to the post-fire elastic modulus. Additionally, comparisons and verification of the effectiveness of the proposed model were made between the values obtained from the GEP model and the formulas proposed by different researchers. Through the analyses and comparisons of the developed model against formulas available in the literature, the acceptable accuracy of the model for predicting the post-fire modulus of elasticity of circular RACFST stub columns was seen.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.615-631
• /
• 2023

To investigate the seismic behavior of steel slag self-stressing concrete-filled circular steel tubular (SSSCFCST) columns, 14 specimens were designed, namely, 10 SSSCFCST columns and four ordinary steel slag (SS) concrete (SSC)-filled circular steel tubular (SSCFCST) columns. Comparative tests were conducted under low reversed cyclic loading considering various parameters, such as the axial compression ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, shear-span ratio, and expansion ratio of SSC. The failure process of the specimens was observed, and hysteretic and skeleton curves were obtained. Next, the influence of these parameters on the hysteretic behavior of the SSSCFCST columns was analyzed. The self stress of SS considerably increased the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens. Results indicated that specimens with a shear-span ratio of 1.83 exhibited compression bending failure, whereas those with shear-span ratios of 0.91 or 1.37 exhibited drum-shaped cracking failure. However, shear-bond failure occurred in the nonloading direction. The stiffness of the falling section of the specimens decreased with increasing shear-span ratio. The hysteretic curves exhibited a weak pinch phenomenon, and their shapes evolved from a full shuttle shape to a bow shape during loading. The skeleton curves of the specimens were nearly complete, progressing through elastic, elastoplastic, and plastic stages. Based on the experimental study and considering the effects of the SSC expansion rate, shear-span ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, and axial compression ratio on the seismic behavior, a peak displacement coefficient of 0.91 was introduced through regression analysis. A simplified method for calculating load-displacement skeleton curves was proposed and loading and unloading rules for SSSCFCST columns were provided. The load-displacement restorative force model of the specimens was established. These findings can serve as a guide for further research and practical application of SSSCFCST columns.