• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.119-139
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• 2022

This paper aims to use the artificial intelligence approach to develop a new model for predicting the ultimate axial strength of the circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) stub columns. For this, the results of 314 experimentally tested circular CFST stub columns were employed in the generation of the design model. Since the influence of the column diameter, steel tube thickness, concrete compressive strength, steel tube yield strength, and column length on the ultimate axial strengths of columns were investigated in these experimental studies, here, in the development of the design model, these variables were taken into account as input parameters. The model was developed using the backpropagation algorithm named Bayesian Regularization. The accuracy, reliability, and consistency of the developed model were evaluated statistically, and also the design formulae given in the codes (EC4, ACI, AS, AIJ, and AISC) and the previous empirical formulations proposed by other researchers were used for the validation and comparison purposes. Based on this evaluation, it can be expressed that the developed design model has a strong and reliable prediction performance with a considerably high coefficient of determination (R-squared) value of 0.9994 and a low average percent error of 4.61. Besides, the sensitivity of the developed model was also monitored in terms of dimensional properties of columns and mechanical characteristics of materials. As a consequence, it can be stated that for the design of the ultimate axial capacity of the circular CFST stub columns, a novel artificial intelligence-based design model with a good and robust prediction performance was proposed herein.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.267-282
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• 2013

This paper presents the behavior and design of axially loaded normal and steel fiber reinforced concrete in-filled steel tube (SFRCFT) columns, to examine the contribution of steel fibers on the compressive strength of the composite columns. Non-linear finite element analysis model (FEA) using ANSYS software has been developed and used in the analysis. The confinement effect provided by the steel tube is considered in the analysis. Comparisons of the analytical model results, along with other available experimental outputs from literature have been done to verify the structural model. The compressive strength and stiffness of SFRC composite columns were discussed, and the interpretation of the FEA model results has indicated that, the use of SFRC as infill material has a considerable effect on the strength and stiffness of the composite column. The analytical model results were compared with the existing design methods of composite columns - (EC4, AISC/LRFD and the Egyptian code of Practice for Steel Construction, ECPSC/LRFD). The comparison indicated that, the results of the FEA model were evaluated to an acceptable limit of accuracy. The code design equations were modified to introduce the steel fiber effect and compared with the results of the FEA model for verification.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2005

This paper presents an experimental study and its findings of the behavior of circular and square stub columns filled with high strength concrete ($f_c^{\prime}$=49MPa) and polymer cement concrete (PCC) under concentric compressive load. Twenty-four specimens were tested to investigate the effects of variations in the tube shape (circular, square), wall thickness, and concrete type on the axial strength of stub columns. The characteristics of CFT stub columns filled with two types of concrete were investigated in order to collect the basic design data for using the PCC for the CFT columns. The experimental investigations included consideration of the effects of the concrete fill on the failure mode, ultimate strength, initial stiffness and deformation capacity. One of the key findings of this study was that circular section members filled with PCC retain their structural resistance without reduction far beyond the ultimate capacity. The results presented in this paper will provide experimental data to aid in the development of design procedures for the use of advanced concretes in CFT columns. Additionally, these results give structural designers invaluable insight into the realistic behavior of CFT columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1487-1505
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the behavior of a new type of composite FRP-concrete-steel member subjected to bi-axial eccentric loading. This new type of composite member is in the form of concrete-filled square steel tube slender columns with inner CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) circular tube, composed of an inner CFRP tube and an outer steel tube with concrete filled in the two tubes. Tests on twenty-six specimens of high strength concrete-filled square steel tube columns with inner CFRP circular tube columns (HCFST-CFRP) were carried out. The parameters changed in the experiments include the slenderness ratio, eccentric ratio, concrete strength, steel ratio and CFRP ratio. The experimental results showed that the failure mode of HCFST-CFRP was similar to that of HCFST, and the specimens failed by local buckling because of the increase of lateral deflection. The steel tube and the CFRP worked together well before failure under bi-axial eccentric loading. Ductility of HCFST-CFRP was better than that of HCFST. The ultimate bearing capacity of test specimen was calculated with simplified formula, which agreed well with test results, and the simplified formula can be used to calculate the bearing capacity of HCFSTF within the parameters of this test.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.371-386
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• 2014

This paper presents a tri-linear restoring force model based on the test results of 12 circular RC columns strengthened by CFRP strips under low cyclic loading. The pre-stress of CFRP strips and axial load ratio of specimens are considered as the affect parameters of the proposed model. All essential characteristics of the hysteretic behavior of the proposed model, including the hysteretic rules, main performance points, strength degradation, stiffness degradation and confinement effects are explicitly analyzed. The calculated results from the proposed model are in good agreement with the experimental results, which shows that the recommended model can be reliably used for seismic behavior predictions of circular RC columns strengthened by pre-stressed CFRP strips.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.387-406
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• 2016

Confined transverse reinforcement was arranged in a plastic hinge region to resist the lateral load that increased the lateral confinement effect in the bridge substructure. Columns increased the seismic performance through securing stiffness and ductility. The calculation method of transverse reinforcements at plastic hinges is reported in the AASHTO-LRFD specification. This specification was only proposed for solid reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Therefore, if this specification is applied for another column as composite column besides the solid RC column, the column cannot be properly evaluated. The application of this specification is particularly limited for composite hollow RC columns. The composite hollow RC column consists of transverse, longitudinal reinforcements, cover concrete, core concrete, and an inner tube inserted in the hollow face. It increases the ductility, strength, and stiffness in composite hollow RC columns. This paper proposes a modified equation for economics and rational design through investigation of displacement ductility when applying the existing specifications at the composite hollow RC column. Moreover, a parametric study was performed to evaluate the detailed behavior. Using these results, a calculation method of economic transverse reinforcements is proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2017

The present study aims to determine the structural response of full scaled rectangular columns under both of vertical and lateral loads using numerical methods. In the study, the composite columns considering full concrete filled circular steel tube (FCFRST) and concrete filled double-skin rectangular steel tube (CFDSRST) section types are numerically modelled using ANSYS software. Vertical and lateral loads are applied to models to assess the structural response of the composite elements. Also similar investigations are done for reinforced concrete rectangular (RCR) columns to compare the results with those of composite elements. The analyses of the systems are statically performed for both linear and nonlinear materials. In linear static analyses, both of vertical and lateral loads are applied to models as only one step. However in nonlinear analyses, while vertical loads are applied to model as only one step, lateral loads are applied to systems as step by step. The displacement and stress changes in some critical nodes and sections and contour diagrams are reported by graphs and figures. At the end of the study, it is demonstrated that the nonlinear models reveal more accurate result then those of linear models. Also, it is highlighted that composite columns provide more and more safety, ductility compared to reinforced concrete column.

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

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.735-751
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• 2014

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) composite columns, either circular (CCFT) or rectangular (RCFT), have many economical and aesthetic advantages but the behavior of their connections are complicated. This study aims to investigate, through an experimental program, the performance and behavior of different connections configurations between circular concrete filled steel tube columns (CCFT) and gusset plates subjected to shear and axial compression loadings. The study included seventeen connection subassemblies consisting of a fixed length steel tube and gusset plate connected to the tube end with different details tested under half cyclic loading. A notable effect was observed on the behavior of the connections due to its detailing changes with respect to capacity, failure mode, ductility, and stress distribution.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.441-456
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• 2023

Aiming at the development trend of light weight and high strength of engineering structures, this paper experimentally investigated the seismic performance of circular-in-square high-strength concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (HCFDST) stub columns with out-of-code width-to-thickness (B/t) ratios. Typical failure mode of HCFDST stub columns appeared with the infill material crushing, steel fracture and local buckling of outer tubes as well as the inner buckling of inner tubes. Subsequently, the detailed analysis on hysteretic curves, skeleton curves and ductility, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation and lateral force reduction was conducted to reflect the influences of hollow ratios, axial compression ratios and infill types, e.g., increasing hollow ratio from 0.54 to 0.68 and 0.82 made a slight effect on bearing capacity compared to the ductility coefficients; the higher axial compression ratio (e.g., 0.3 versus 0.1) significantly reduced the average bearing capacity and ductility; the HCFDST column SCFST-6 filled with concrete obviously displayed the larger initial secant stiffness with a percentage 34.20% than the column SCFST-2 using engineered cementitious composite (ECC); increasing hollow ratios, axial compression ratios could accelerate the drop speed of stiffness degradation. The out-of-code HCFDST stub columns with reasonable design could behave favorable hysteretic performance. A theoretical model considering the tensile strength effect of ECC was thereafter established and verified to predict the moment-resisting capacity of HCFDST columns using ECC. The reported research on circular-in-square HCFDST stub columns can provide significant references to the structural application and design.