• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2018

This paper presents an experimental work for short circular steel tube columns filled with normal concrete (NAC), recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), and RAC with silica fume and steel fiber. Ten specimens were tested under axial compression to research the effect of silica fume and steel fiber volume percentage on the behavior of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube columns (RACFST). The failure modes, ultimate loads and axial load- strain relationships are presented. The test results indicate that silica fume and steel fiber would not change the failure mode of the RACFST column, but can increase the mechanical performances of the RACFST column because of the filling effect and pozzolanic action of silica fume and the confinement effect of steel fiber. The ultimate load, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of RACFST columns can exceed that of corresponding natural aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (NACFST) column. Design formulas EC4 for the load capacity NACFST and RACFST columns are proposed, and the predictions agree well with the experimental results from this study.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular column is composed of concrete, steel, and CFRP. Its failure mechanics are complex. The most important difficulties are lack of an available method to establish a relationship between a specific damage mechanism and its acoustic emission (AE) characteristic parameter. In this study, AE technique was used to monitor the evolution of damage in CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular columns. A fuzzy c-means method was developed to determine the relationship between the AE signal and failure mechanisms. Cluster analysis results indicate that the main AE sources include five types: matrix cracking, debonding, fiber fracture, steel buckling, and concrete crushing. This technology can not only totally separate five types of damage sources, but also make it easier to judge the damage evolution process. Furthermore, typical damage waveforms were analyzed through wavelet analysis based on the cluster results, and the damage modes were determined according to the frequency distribution of AE signals.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.693-703
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• 2018

To better understand the influence of hollow ratio on the hollow concrete-filled circular steel tubular (H-CFT) stub columns under axial compression and to propose the design formula of ultimate bearing capacity for H-CFT stub columns, 3D finite element analysis and laboratory experiments were completed to obtain the load-deformation curves and the failure modes of H-CFT stub columns. The changes of the confinement effect between core concrete and steel tube with different hollow ratios were discussed based on the finite element results. The result shows that the axial stress of concrete and hoop stress of steel tube in H-CFT stub columns are decreased with the increase of hollow ratio. AfteGr the yield of steel, the reduction rate of longitudinal stress and the increase rate of circumferential stress for the steel tube slowed down. The confinement effect from steel tube on concrete also weakened slowly with the increase of hollow ratio. Based on the limit equilibrium method, a simplified formula of ultimate bearing capacity for the axially loaded H-CFT stub columns was proposed. The predicted results showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental and numerical results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.967-993
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• 2015

The aim of this paper is to investigate the appropriateness of current codes of practice for predicting the axial load capacity of high-strength Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Columns (CFSTCs). Australian/New Zealand standards and other international codes of practice for composite bridges and buildings are currently being revised and will allow for the use of high-strength CFSTCs. It is therefore important to assess and modify the suitability of the section and ultimate buckling capacities models. For this purpose, available experimental results on high-strength composite columns have been assessed. The collected experimental results are compared with eight current codes of practice for rectangular CFSTCs and seven current codes of practice for circular CFSTCs. Furthermore, based on the statistical studies carried out, simplified relationships are developed to predict the section and ultimate buckling capacities of normal and high-strength short and slender rectangular and circular CFSTCs subjected to concentric loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.499-513
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• 2024

This paper describes the experimental and numerical investigations of octagonal Concrete-Filled Double Skinned Steel Tube (CFDST) short columns under the influence of various internal sizes of the circular and square steel tubes, with constant cross-sectional dimensions of the external octagonal steel tube under concentric loading. The non-linear finite element analysis of octagonal CFDST columns was executed using the ABAQUS to forecast and compare the axial compression behavior influenced by the various sizes of internal circular and square steel tubes. The study shows that the axial compressive strength and ductility of octagonal CFDST columns were significantly influenced by various internal dimensions of the circular and square steel tubes with the strengths of constituent materials.

• 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.28 no.5
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• pp.573-588
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• 2018

The objective of this paper is to investigate the mechanical performances of polygonal concrete-filled circular steel tubular (CFT) stub columns under axial loading through combined experimental and numerical study. A total of 32 specimens were designed to investigate the effect of the concrete strength and steel ratio on the compressive behavior of polygonal CFT stub columns. The ultimate bearing capacity, ductility and confinement effect were analyzed based on the experimental results and the failure modes were discussed in detail. Besides, ABAQUS was adopted to establish the three dimensional FE model. The composite action between the core concrete and steel tube was further discussed and clarified. It was found that the behavior of CFT stub column changes with the change of the cross-section, and the change is continuous. Finally, based on both experimental and numerical results, a unified formula was developed to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of polygonal CFT stub columns according to the superposition principle with rational simplification. The predicted results showed satisfactory agreement with both experimental and FE results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.643-650
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• 2022

In this paper a novel mathematical model and its analytical solution of global buckling behaviour of slender elastic concrete-filled double-skin tubular (CFDST) columns with finite compliance between the steel tubes and a sandwiched concrete core is derived for the first time. The model is capable of investigating the influence of various basic parameters on critical buckling loads of CFDST columns. It is shown that the elastic buckling load of circular and slender CFDST columns is independent on longitudinal contact stiffness, but, on the other hand, it can be considerably dependent on circumferential contact stiffness. The increasing of the circumferential contact stiffness increases the critical buckling load. Furthermore, it is shown that analytical results can agree well with the experimental and numerical results if the calibrated values of circumferential contact stiffness are used in the calculations. Moreover, it is shown that the contact between the steel tubes and a sandwiched concrete core of tested large-scale CFDST columns used in the comparison is relatively weak. Finally, the proposed analytical results can be used as a benchmark solution.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.199-212
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• 2019

This paper presents an investigation on seismic behavior of out-of-code Q690 circular high-strength concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular (HCFTST) columns made up of high-strength (HS) steel tubes (yield strength $f_y{\geq}690MPa$). Eight Q690 circular HCFTST columns with various diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratios, concrete cylinder compressive strengths ($f_c$) and axial compression ratios (n) were tested under the constant axial loading and reversed cyclic lateral loading. The obtained lateral load-displacement hysteretic curves, energy dissipation, skeleton curves and ductility, and stiffness degradation were analyzed in detail to reflect the influences of tested parameters. Subsequently, a simplified shear strength model was derived and validated by the test results. Finally, a finite element analysis (FEA) model incorporating a stress triaxiality dependent fracture criterion was established to simulate the seismic behavior. The systematic investigation indicates the following: compared to the D/t ratio and axial compression ratio, improving the concrete compressive strength (e.g., the HS thin-walled steel tube filled with HS concrete) had a slight influence on the ductility but an obvious enhancement of energy dissipation and peak load; the simplified shear strength model based on truss mechanism accurately predicted the shear-resisting capacity; and the established FEA model incorporating steel fracture criterion simulated well the seismic behavior (e.g., hysteretic curve, local buckling and fracture), which can be applied to the seismic analysis and design of Q690 circular HCFTST columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.141-154
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• 2022

This paper describes the experimental and numerical investigation on circular and octagonal CFDST short columns under concentric loading to study their responses to various internal circular steel tube sizes by the constant cross-sectional dimensions of the external circular and octagonal steel tube. The non-linear finite element analysis of circular and octagonal CFDST columns was executed using the ABAQUS to forecast and compare the axial behavior influenced by the various sizes of internal circular steel tubes. The study shows that the axial compressive strength and ductility of circular and octagonal CFDST columns were significantly influenced by inner steel tubes with the strengths of constituent materials.