• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.437-450
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• 2023

A half open cross section built-up column, namely cold-formed thin-walled steel built-up column with 12-limbsection (CTSBC-12) is put forward. To deeply reveal the mechanical behaviors of CTSBC-12 under axial compression and put forward its calculation formula of axial bearing capacity, based on the previous axial compression experimental research, the finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted on 9 CTSBC-12 specimens, and then the variable parameter analysis is carried out. The results show the FEA is in good agreement with the experimental research, the ultimate bearing capacity error is within 10%. When the slenderness ratio is more than 96.54, the ultimate bearing capacity of CTSBC-12 decreases rapidly, and the failure mode changes from local buckling to global buckling. With the local buckling failure mode unchanged, the ultimate bearing capacity decreases gradually as the ratio of web height to thickness increases. Three methods are used for calculating the ultimate bearing capacity, the direct strength method of AISI S100-2007 gives result of ultimate axial load which is closest to the test and FEA results. But for simplicity and practicality, a simplified axial bearing capacity formula is proposed, which has better calculation accuracy with the slenderness ratio changing from 30 to 100.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.309-322
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• 2017

This paper conducted both numerical and theoretical studies to investigate the composite action of notched circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFT) stub columns under axial compression and established a theoretical method to predict their ultimate bearing capacity. 3D finite element (FE) analysis was conducted to simulate the composite action and the results were in good agreement with experimental results on circular CFT stub columns with differently oriented notches in steel tubes. Parametric study was conducted to understand the effects of different parameters on the mechanical behavior of circular CFT stub columns and also the composite action between the steel tube and the core concrete. Based on the results, a theoretical formula was proposed to calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of notched CFT stub columns under compression with consideration of the composite action between the steel tube and the core concrete.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.773-784
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• 2022

This paper aims to investigate the axial compressive behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with self-compacting and micro-expanding (SM) concrete-filled steel tubes (SM-CFSTs). Nine specimens were tested in total under the local axial compression. The test parameters included steel tube thickness, filling concrete strength, filling concrete type and initial axial preloading. The test results demonstrated that the initial stiffness, ultimate bearing capacity and ductility of original RC columns were improved after being strengthened by SM-CFSTs. The ultimate bearing capacity of the SM-CFST strengthened RC columns was significantly enhanced with the increase of steel tube thickness. The initial stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity of the SM-CFST strengthened RC columns were slightly enhanced with the increase of filling concrete strength. However, the effect of filling concrete type and initial axial preloading of the SM-CFST strengthened RC columns were negligible. Three equations for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of the SM-CFST strengthened RC columns were compared, and the modified equation based on Chinese code (GB 50936-2014) was more precise.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.6
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• pp.627-635
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• 2019

In order to study the axial compression performance of sand-lightweight concrete-filled steel tube (SLCFST) stub columns, three circular SLCFST (C-SLCFST) stub column specimens and three SLCFST square (S-SLCFST) stub column specimens were fabricated and static monotonic axial compression performance testing was carried out, using the volume ratio between river sand and ceramic sand in sand-lightweight concrete (SLC) as a varying parameter. The stress process and failure mode of the specimens were observed, stress-strain curves were obtained and analysed for the specimens, and the ultimate bearing capacity of SLCFST stub column specimens was calculated based on unified strength theory, limit equilibrium theory and superposition theory. The results show that the outer steel tubes of SLCFST stub columns buckled outward, core SLC was crushed, and the damage to the upper parts of the S-SLCFST stub columns was more serious than for C-SLCFST stub columns. Three stages can be identified in the stress-strain curves of SLCFST stub columns: an elastic stage, an elastic-plastic stage and a plastic stage. It is suggested that AIJ-1997, CECS 159:2004 or AIJ-1997, based on superposition theory, can be used to design the ultimate bearing capacity under axial compression for C-SLCFST and S-SLCFST stub columns; for varying replacement ratios of natural river sand, the calculated stress-strain curves for SLCFST stub columns under axial compression show good fitting to the test measure curves.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.217-234
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• 2016

In order to investigate mechanical properties and load-bearing capacity of T-shaped Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubular (TCFST) composite columns under eccentric axial load, three T-shaped composite columns were tested under eccentric compression. Experimental results show that failure mode of the columns under eccentric compression was bending buckling of the whole specimen, and mono column performs flexural buckling. Specimens behaved good ductility and load-bearing capacity. Nonlinear finite element analysis was also employed in this investigation. The failure mode, the load-displacement curve and the ultimate bearing capacity of the finite element analysis are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Based on eccentric compression test and parametric finite element analysis, the calculation formula for the equivalent slenderness ratio was proposed and the bearing capacity of TCFST composite columns under eccentric compression was calculated. Results of theoretical calculation, parametric finite element analysis and eccentric compression experiment accord well with each other, which indicates that the theoretical calculation method of the bearing capacity is advisable.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2019

Hollow steel-reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular member is a new kind of composite members. Firstly set the mold in the GFRP tube (non-bearing component), then set the longitudinal reinforcements with stirrups (steel reinforcement cage) between the GFRP tube and the mold, and filled the concrete between them. Through the axial compression test of the hollow steel-reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular member, the working mechanism and failure modes of composite members were obtained. Based on the experiment, when the load reached the ranges of $55-70%P_u$ ($P_u-ultimate$ load), white cracks appeared on the surface of the GFRP tubes of specimens. At that time, the confinement effects of the GFRP tubes on core concrete were obvious. Keep loading, the ranges of white cracks were expanding, and the confinement effects increased proportionally. In addition, the damages of specimens, which were accompanied with great noise, were marked by fiber breaking and resin cracking on the surface of GFRP tubes, also accompanied with concrete crushing. The bearing capacity of the axially compressed components increased with the increase of reinforcement ratio, and decreased with the increase of hollow ratio. When the reinforcement ratio was increased from 0 to 4.30%, the bearing capacity was increased by about 23%. When the diameter of hollow part was decreased from 55mm to 0, the bearing capacity was increased by about 32%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.405-421
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• 2023

An experimental study on six axially-loaded composite short columns with different thicknesses of steel tube and that of the concrete plate was carried out. Compared to the mechanical behavior of component specimens under axially compressed, the failure modes, compression deformation, and strain process were obtained. The two main parameters that have a significant enhancement to cross-sectional strength were also analyzed. The failure of an axially loaded UHPC-CFST short column is due to the crushing of the UHPC plate, while the CFST member does reach its maximum resistance. A reduction coefficient K'c, related to the confinement coefficient, is introduced to account for the contribution of CFST members to the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the UHPC-CFST composite short columns. Based on the regression analysis of the relationship between the confinement index ξ and the value of fcc/fc, a unified formula for estimating the axial compressive strength of CFST short columns was proposed, combined with the experimental results in this research, and an equation for reliably predicting the strength of UHPC-CFST composite short columns under axial compression were also proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.337-350
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• 2019

The objective of this paper is to investigate the confinement coefficient of concrete-filled square stainless steel tubular (CFSSST) stub columns under axial loading. A fine finite 3D solid element model was established, which utilized a constitutive model of stainless steel considering the strain-hardening characteristics and a triaxial plastic-damage constitutive model of concrete with features of the parameter certainty under axial compression. The finite element analysis results revealed that the increased ultimate bearing capacity of CFSSST stub columns compared with their carbon steel counterparts was mainly due to that the composite action of CFSSST stub columns is stronger than that of carbon steel counterparts. A further parametric study was carried out based on the verified model, and it was found that the stress contribution of the stainless steel tube is higher than the carbon steel tube. The stress nephogram was simplified reasonably in accordance with the limit state of core concrete and a theoretical formula was proposed to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of square CFSSST stub columns using superposition method. The predicted results showed satisfactory agreement with both the experimental and FE results. Finally, the comparisons of the experimental and predicted results using the proposed formula and the existing codes were illustrated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2018

In order to evaluate the effect of hybrid fibers on the flexural performance of tunnel segment at room temperature, twelve reinforced self-consolidating concrete (SCC) symmetric inclination beams containing steel fiber, macro polypropylene fiber, micro polypropylene fiber, and their hybridizations were studied under combined loading of flexure and axial compression. The results indicate that the addition of mono steel fiber and hybrid fibers can enhance the ultimate bearing capacity and cracking behavior of tested beams. These improvements can be further enhanced along with increasing the content of steel fiber and macro PP fiber, but reduced with the increase of the reinforcement ratio of beams. The hybrid effect of steel fiber and macro PP fiber was the most obvious. However, the addition of micro PP fibers led to a degradation to the flexural performance of reinforced beams at room temperature. Meanwhile, the hybrid use of steel fiber and micro polypropylene fiber didn't present an obvious improvement to SCC beams. Compared to micro polypropylene fiber, the macro polypropylene fiber plays a more prominent role on affecting the structural behavior of SCC beams. A calculation method for ultimate bearing capacity of flexural SCC symmetric inclination beams at room temperature by taking appropriate effect of hybrid fibers into consideration was proposed. The prediction results using the proposed model are compared with the experimental data in this study and other literature. The results indicate that the proposed model can estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of SCC symmetric inclination beams containing hybrid fibers subjected to combined action of flexure and axial compression at room temperature.

• 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.