• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.229-238
• /
• 2017

This paper presents a combined numerical and theoretical study on the composite action between steel and concrete of circular steel tube confined concrete (STCC) stub columns under axial compressive loading with a full theoretical elasto-plastic model and finite element (FE) model in comparison with experimental results. Based on continuum mechanics, the elasto-plastic model for STCC stub columns was established and the analysis was realized by a FORTRAN program and the three dimensional FE model was developed using ABAQUS. The steel ratio of the circular STCC columns were defined in range of 0.5% to 2% to analyze the composite action between steel tube and concrete, and make a further study on the advantages of the circular STCC columns. By comparing the results using the elasto-plastic methods with the parametric analysis result of FE model, the appropriate friction coefficient between the steel tube and core concrete was defined as 0.4 to 0.6. Based on ultimate balance theory, the formula of ultimate load capacity applying to the circular STCC stub columns was developed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.375-388
• /
• 2019

This paper aims to investigate the axial load behavior and stability strength of square tubed steel-reinforced concrete (TSRC) columns. Unlike concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) column, the outer steel tube of a TSRC column is mainly used to provide confinement to the core concrete. Ten specimens were tested under axial compression, and the main test variables included length-to-width ratio (L/B) of the specimens, width-to-thickness ratio (B/t) of the steel tubes, and with or without stud shear connectors on the steel sections. The failure mode, ultimate strength and load-tube stress response of each specimen were summarized and analyzed. The test results indicated that the axial load carried by square tube due to friction and bond of the interface increased with the increase of L/B ratio, while the confinement effect of tube was just the opposite. Parametric studies were performed through ABAQUS based on the test results, and the feasibility of current design codes has also been examined. Finally, a method for calculating the ultimate strength of this composite column was proposed, in which the slenderness effect on the tube confinement was considered.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.451-460
• /
• 2024

Hollow reinforced concrete columns confined with GFRP tubes (GRCH) are composite members composed of the outer GFRP tube, the PVC or other plastic tube as the inner tube, and the reinforced concrete between two tubes. Because of their high ductility, light weight, corrosion resistance and convenient construction, many researchers pay attention to the composite members. However, there are few studies on GRCH members under eccentric compression compared with those under axial compression. Eight hollow columns were tested under eccentric compression, including one axial compression column and seven eccentric compression columns. The failure modes and force mechanisms of GRCH members were analyzed, considering the varying in hollow ratio, reinforcement ratio and eccentricity. The test results showed that configuring steel bars can greatly increase the bearing capacity and ductility of the members. Each component (GFRP tube, concrete, steel bar) had good deformation coordination and the strength of each material could be fully utilized. But for specimens with larger eccentricity ratio (e_r=0.4) and larger hollow ratio (χ=0.55), the restraining effect of GFRP tube on concrete was significantly decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2011

This paper presents a preliminary study for air-tightness evaluation of vacuum tube structures for super-speed tube railway systems. The formula for flow rate of the air caused by the pressure difference of the inside and outside of the tube structure is derived based on Darcy's law. A test is then performed to measure the air-permeability of concrete with various compressive strengths, the result of which is used for analytical simulation of the air intrusion for a tube structure with a preliminarily defined section. It has been shown that concrete with the compressive strength of at least more than 50MPa is recommended for effective operation and maintenance of the vacuum pump systems, as the air-permeability of concrete is inversely proportional to the exponent of its compressive strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.88 no.1
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2023

In this study, circular thin-walled reinforced high strength concrete-filled steel tube (RHSCFST) stub columns with various tube thicknesses (i.e., 1.8, 2.5 and 3.0mm) and reinforcement ratios (i.e., 0, 1.6%, 2.4% and 3.2%) were fabricated to explore the influence of these factors on the axial compressive behavior of RHSCFST. The obtained test results show that the failure mode of RHSCFST transforms from outward buckling and tearing failure to drum failure with the increasing tube thickness. With the tube thickness and reinforcement ratio increased, the ultimate load-carrying capacity, compressive stiffness and ductility of columns increased, while the lateral strain in the stirrup decreased. Comparisons were also made between test results and the existing codes such as AIJ (2008), BS5400 (2005), ACI (2019) and EC4 (2010). It has been found that the existing codes provide conservative predictions for the ultimate load-carrying capacity of RHSCFST. Therefore, an accurate model for the prediction of the ultimate load-carrying capacity of circular thin-walled RHSCFST considering the steel reinforcement is developed, based on the obtained experimental results. It has been found that the model proposed in this study provides more accurate predictions of the ultimate load-carrying capacity than that from existing design codes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.589-604
• /
• 2016

Kenya has recently experienced worrying collapse of buildings during construction largely attributable to the poor quality of in-situ concrete and poor workmanship. The situation in the country is further compounded by rapid deterioration of infrastructure, hence necessitating the development of alternative structural systems such as concrete filled unplasticized poly vinyl chloride (UPVC) tubes as columns. The work herein adds on to the very limited and scanty work on use of UPVC tubes in construction. This study presents the findings of experimental and analytical work which investigated the structural response of composite concrete filled UPVC tubes under compressive load regime. UPVC pipes are cheaper than steel tubes and can be used as formwork during construction and thereafter as an integral part of column. Key variables in this study included the strength of infill concrete, the length to diameter ratio (L/D) of the plastic tube, as well as the diameter to thickness ratio (D/2t) of the plastic tube. Plastic tubes having varying diameters and heights were used to confine concrete of different strengths. Results obtained in the study clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of UPVC tubes as a confining medium for infill concrete, attributable to enhanced composite interaction between the UPVC tube and infill concrete medium. It was determined that compressive strength of the composite column specimens increased with increased concrete strength while the same decreased with increased column height, albeit by a small margin since all the columns considered were short columns. Most importantly, the experimental confined concrete strength increased significantly when compared to unconfined concrete strength; the strength increased between 1.18 to 3.65 times the unconfined strength. It was noted that lower strength infill concrete had the highest confined strength possibly due to enhanced composite interaction with the confining UPVC tube. The study further proposes an analytical model for the determination of confined strength of concrete.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.415-428
• /
• 2010

Proper material constitutive models for concrete-filled tube (CFT) columns of circular cross section and subjected to pure bending moment are proposed. These material models are implemented into the Abaqus finite element program and verified against experimental data. It has been shown that the steel tube does not provide good confining effect to the concrete core when the CFT columns is subjected to pure bending moment. When the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the CFT columns is small, the behavior of the CFT column is the same as the steel tube without a concrete core.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1023-1044
• /
• 2015

Concrete-filled tubes (CFT), formed by an outer steel tube filled with plain or reinforced concrete inside, have been increasingly used these recent decades as columns or beam-columns, especially for tall buildings in seismic areas due to their excellent structural response. This improved behavior is derived from the effect of confinement provided by the tube, since the compressive strength of concrete increases when being subjected to hydrostatic pressure. In circular CFTs under compression, the whole tube is uniformly tensioned due to the radial expansion of concrete. Contrarily, in rectangular and square-shaped CFTs, the lateral flanges become subjected to in-plane bending derived from this volumetric expansion, and this fact implies a reduction of the confinement effect of the core. This study presents a numerical analysis of different configurations of CFT stub columns with inner stiffening plates, limited to the study of the influence of these plates on the compressive behavior without eccentricity. The final purpose is to evaluate the efficiency in terms of strength and ductility of introducing stiffeners into circular and square CFT sections under large deformation axial loading.