• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.319-335
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• 2021

This study proposes a new and highly-accurate artificial intelligence model, namely ANN-IP, which combines an interior-point (IP) algorithm and artificial neural network (ANN), to improve the axial compression capacity prediction of elliptical concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns. For this purpose, 145 tests of elliptical CFST columns extracted from the literature are used to develop the ANN-IP model. In this regard, axial compression capacity is considered as a function of the column length, the major axis diameter, the minor axis diameter, the thickness of the steel tube, the yield strength of the steel tube, and the compressive strength of concrete. The performance of the ANN-IP model is compared with the ANN-LM model, which uses the robust Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm to train the ANN model. The comparative results show that the ANN-IP model obtains more magnificent precision (R² = 0.983, RMSE = 59.963 kN, a20 - index = 0.979) than the ANN-LM model (R² = 0.938, RMSE = 116.634 kN, a20 - index = 0.890). Finally, a new Graphical User Interface (GUI) tool is developed to use the ANN-IP model for the practical design. In conclusion, this study reveals that the proposed ANN-IP model can properly predict the axial compression capacity of elliptical CFST columns and eliminate the need for conducting costly experiments to some extent.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.201-213
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• 2021

Currently, there is a lack of research in the design approach to avoid column wall failure in the concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) column-beam connections. In this paper, a finite element model has been developed and verified by available experimental data to analyze the failure mechanism of CFDST column-beam connections. Various finite element models with different column hollow ratios (χ) were established. The simulation result revealed that with increasing χ the failure mode gradually changed from yielding of end plate, to local failure of the column wall. Detailed parametric analyses were performed to study the failure mechanism of column wall for the CFDST column-beam connection, in which the strength of sandwiched concrete and steel tube and thickness of steel tube were incorporated. An analytical model was proposed to predict the moment resistance of the assembled connection considering the failure of column wall. The simulation results indicate that the proposed analytical model can provided a conservative prediction of the moment resistance. Finally, an upper bound value of χ was recommend to avoid column wall failure for CFDST column-beam connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.697-712
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• 2024

In this paper, the dynamic flexural stiffness of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members is investigated based on vibration modal testing and a Bayesian model updating procedure. To reflect the actual service states of CFST members, a 3-stage modal testing procedure is developed for 6 circular CFST beam-columns, in which the modal parameters of the specimens under varying axial load levels are extracted. In the model updating procedure, a Timoshenko beam element model is first established, in which the influence of shear deformation and rotational inertia are incorporated. Subsequently, a 2-round Bayesian model updating strategy is proposed to calculate the dynamic flexural stiffness of the specimens, which could effectively consider the influence of physical constraints in the updating process and achieve reasonably well results. Analysis of the updating results shows that with the increase of the axial load level, degradation of the flexural stiffness is significantly influenced by the load eccentricity. It shows that the cracking of the core concrete is the primary reason for the flexural stiffness degradation of CFST beam-columns. Finally, based on comparison with equations proposed by several design standards, the calculation methods for the dynamic flexural stiffness of CFST members is recommended.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.449-460
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• 2018

This paper reports the experimental results of three through bolt beam-column connections under pure shear forces using modified push-out tests. The investigated specimens include extended end-plates and six through-bolts connecting square concrete-filled steel tubular column (S-CFST) to steel beams. The main goal of this study is to investigate if and how the mechanical shear connectors, such as steel angles and stud bolts, contribute to the shear transfer mechanisms in the steel-concrete interface of the composite column. The contribution of shear studs and steel angles to improve the shear resistance of steel-concrete interface in through-bolt connections was investigated using tests. The results showed that their contribution is not significant when the beam-column connection is included in the push-out tests. The specimens failed by pure shear of the long bolts, and the ultimate load can be predicted using the shear resistance of the bolts under shear forces. The predicted values of load allowed obtaining a good agreement with the tests results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.259-276
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• 2002

In the present investigation the experimental and theoretical flexural and compressive behavior of short tubular steel columns filled with plain concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) was examined. For a given length of the members, the effects of different geometry and dimensions of the transverse cross-section (square and circular) were investigated. Constituent materials were characterized through direct tensile tests on steel coupons and through compressive and split tension tests on concrete cylinders. Load-axial shortening and load-deflection curves were recorded for unfilled and composite members. Finally, simplified expressions for the calculus of the load-deflection curves based on the cross-section analysis were given and the ultimate load of short columns was predicted.

• Architectural research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2021

A concrete-filled circular steel tube beam was fabricated, and a bending test was performed to analyze its failure modes, displacement ductility, bending-shear strength, and load-central deflection relationship. For the bending test, the installation position of the shape memory alloy (SMA) inside and outside the double-skin steel tube was used, and the rebar installation position, the concrete strength, the mixing of fibers, and the inner-outer diameter ratio as the main parameters. The test results showed that the installation positions of the reinforcements inside and outside the double-skin steel tube and the inner-outer diameter ratio of the steel tube affected the ductility, maximum load, and failure mode. In general, the specimen made of general concrete with SMA installed outside and inside (OI) the double-skin steel tube showed the best results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.141-166
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• 2015

In the present study, a Finite Element Model has been developed and used to study the effect of diameter to wall thickness ratio (D/t) of steel tube filled with concrete under axial loading on its behavior and load carrying capacity. The model is verified by comparing its findings with available experimental results. Influence of thickness and area of steel tube on strength, ductility, confinement and failure mode shapes has been studied. Strength enhancement factors, load factor, confinement contribution, percentage of steel and ductility index are defined and introduced for the assessment. A parametric study by varying length and thickness of tube has been carried out. Diameter of tube kept constant and equals to 140 mm while thickness has been varied between 1 mm and 6 mm. Equations were developed to find out the ultimate load and confined concrete strength of concrete. Variation of lateral confining pressure along the length of concrete cylinder was obtained and found that it varies along the length. The increase in length of tubes has a minimal effect on strength of tube but it affects the failure mode shapes. The findings indicate that optimum use of materials can be achieved by deciding the thickness of steel tube. A better ductility index can be obtained with the use of higher thickness of tube.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.497-520
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• 2016

The confined concrete stress-strain curves utilised in computational models of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns can have a significant influence on the accuracy of the predicted behaviour. A generic model is proposed for predicting the stress-strain behaviour of confined concrete in short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns subjected to axial compression. The finite element (FE) analysis is carried out to simulate the concrete confining pressure in short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns. The concrete confining pressure relies on the geometric and material parameters of CFST columns. The post-peak behaviour of the concrete stress-strain curve is determined using independent existing experimental results. The strength reduction factor is derived for predicting the descending part of the confined concrete behaviour. The fibre element model is developed for the analysis of circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST short columns under axial loading. The FE model and fibre element model accounting for the proposed concrete confined model is verified by comparing the computed results with experimental results. The ultimate axial strengths and complete axial load-strain curves obtained from the FE model and fibre element model agree reasonably well with experimental results. Parametric studies have been carried out to examine the effects of important parameters on the compressive behaviour of short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns. The design model proposed by Liang and Fragomeni (2009) for short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns is validated by comparing the predicted results with experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2021

Existing research on confined concrete filled steel tubular (CCFT) columns has been mainly focused on static or cyclic loading. In this paper, square section CCFT and CFT columns were tested under both static and impact loading, using a 10,000 kN capacity compression test machine and a drop weight testing equipment. Research parameters included bonded and unbonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wraps, with carbon, basalt and glass FRPs (or CFRP, BFRP, and GFRP), respectively. Time history curves for impact force and steel strain observed are discussed in detail. Experimental results show that the failure modes of specimens under impact testing were characterized by local buckling of the steel tube and cracking at the corners, for both CCFT and CFT columns, similar to those under static loading. For both static and impact loading, the FRP wraps could improve the behavior and increase the loading capacity. To analyze the dynamic behavior of the composite columns, a finite element, FE, model was established in LS-DYNA. A simplified method that is compared favorably with test results is also proposed to predict the impact load capacity of square CCFT columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.455-480
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• 2014

Sixteen concrete filled square CFRP-steel tubular (S-CFRP-CFST) stub columns under axial compression were experimentally investigated. The experimental results showed that the failure mode of the specimens is strength loss of the materials, and the confined concrete has good plasticity due to confinement of the CFRP-steel composite tube. The steel tube and CFRP can work concurrently. The load versus longitudinal strain curves of the specimens can be divided into 3 stages, i.e., elastic stage, elasto-plastic stage and softening stage. Analysis based on finite element method showed that the longitudinal stress of the steel tube keeps almost constant along axial direction, and the transverse stress at the corner of the concrete is the maximum. The confinement effect of the outer tube to the concrete is mainly focused on the corner. The confinements along the side of the cross-section and the height of the specimen are both non-uniform. The adhesive strength has little effect both on the load versus longitudinal strain curves and on the confinement force versus longitudinal strain curves. With the increasing of the initial stress in the steel tube, the load carrying capacity, the stiffness and the peak value of the average confinement force are all reduced. Equation for calculating the load carrying capacity of the composite stub columns is presented, and the estimated results agree well with the experimental results.