• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2015

The plastic stress distribution method and the strain compatibility method are the two representative methods to calculate the P-M interaction strength of RCFT (rectangular concrete filled tube) columns. The plastic stress distribution method is approximate while the stress compatibility method should approach the exact solution if accurate constitutive relations of the materials involved are used. Recent study by the authors pointed out that, because of lack of accurate constitutive model for the concrete confined by the rectangular steel tube, no strain compatibility method according to the current structural provisions provides a satisfactory prediction of the P-M interaction strength of RCFT columns under various material combinations. An empirical constitutive model which can capture the stress-strain characteristics of the confined concrete of RCFT columns is proposed based on analyzing extensive exisitng test database. The key idea was to define the concrete crushing strain as a function of steel-to-concrete strength ratio and width-to-thickness ratio of steel tube. It was shown that the proposed model leads to more accurate and more consistent prediction of the P-M interaction strength of RCFT columns under general design conditions.