Prediction of Axial Capacity of Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubes Using Neural Networks

The application of artificial neural network to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of CFST （ concrete-filled square steel tubes） short columns under axial loading is explored. Input parameters consiste of concrete compressive strength, yield strength of steel tube, confinement index, sectional dimension and width-to-thickness ratio. The ultimate bearing capacity is the only output parameter. A multilayer feedforward neural network is used to describe the nonlinear relationships between the input and output variables. Fifty-five experimental data of CFST short columns under axial loading are used to train and test the neural network. A comparison between the neural network model and three parameter models shows that the neural network model possesses good accuracy and could be a practical method for predicting the ultimate strength of axially loaded CFST short columns.

Seismic performance of recycled concrete-filled square steel tube columns

An experimental study on the seismic performance of recycled concrete-filled square steel tube （RCFST） columns is carried out. Six specimens were designed and tested under constant axial compression and cyclic lateral loading. Two parameters, replacement percentage of recycled coarse aggregate （RCA） and axial compression level, were considered in the test. Based on the experimental data, the hysteretic loops, skeleton curves, ductility, energy dissipation capacity and stiffness degradation of RCFST columns were analyzed. The test results indicate that the failure modes of RCFST columns are the local buckling of the steel tube at the bottom of the columns, and the hysteretic loops are full and their shapes are similar to normal CFST columns. Furthermore, the ductility coefficient of all specimens are close to 3.0, and the equivalent viscous damping coefficient corresponding to the ultimate lateral load ranges from 0.323 to 0.360, which demonstrates that RCFST columns exhibit remarkable seismic performance.

Behavior of High Strength Concrete Filled Square Steel Tube Stub Columns with Inner CFRP Tube Under Biaxial Eccentric Compression

This paper studies the contribution of CFRP(carbon fiber-reinforced polymer)to the mechanical behavior of high strength concrete-filled square steel tube(HCFST)under biaxial eccentric compression.The new type of composite member is composed of an inner CFRP tube and an outer steel tube with concrete filled in the two tubes.The finite element analysis was made by ABAQUS on the behavior of high strength concrete filled square steel tubular columns with inner CFRP circular tube subjected to bi-axial eccentric loading.The results obtained from the finite element analysis were verified with the experimental results.In addition,the load-deflection curves in the whole process were calculated and analyzed,which can be divided into three segments:Elastic phase,plastic phase,descending phase.Based on the load-deflection curves,the stresses analysis on the core concrete,CFRP tube and steel tube were conducted.The confinement effect of the CFRP tube improves the ductility of HCFST-CFRP stub column.CFRP ratio and eccentricity affect the ultimate bearing capacity of HCFST stub column.Finally,a calculation formula of ultimate bearing capacity was proposed in the paper.

Experimental study on the seismic behavior of high strength concrete fi lled double-tube columns

To study the seismic behavior of high strength concrete fi lled double-tube(CFDT) columns,each consisting of an external square steel tube and an internal circular steel tube,quasi-static tests on eight CFDT column specimens were conducted.The test variables included the width-to-thickness ratio(β1) and the area ratio(β2) of the square steel tube,the wall thickness of the circular steel tube,and the axial force(or the axial force ratio) applied to the CFDT columns.The test results indicate that for CFDT columns with a square steel tube with β1 of 50.1 and 24.5,local buckling of the specimen was found at a drift ratio of 1/150 and 1/50,respectively.The lateral force-displacement hysteretic loops of all specimens were plump and stable.Reducing the width-to-thickness ratio of the square steel tube,increasing its area ratio,or increasing the wall thickness of the internal circular steel tube,led to an increased fl exural strength and deformation capacity of the specimens.Increasing the design value of the axial force ratio from 0.8 to 1.0 may increase the fl exural strength of the specimens,while it may also decrease the ultimate deformation capacity of the specimen with β1 of 50.1.

Theoretical study on the confine-stiffening effect and fractal cracking of square concrete filled steel tubes in tension loads

Tension stress in steel-concrete composite is widely observed in engineering design.Based on an experimental program on tension performance of three square concrete-filled tubes(SCFT),the tension theory of SCFT is proposed using a mechanics-based approach.The tension stiffening effect,the confining strengthening effect and the confining stiffening effect,observed in tests of SCFTs are included in the developed tension theory model.Subsequently,simplified constitutive models of steel and concrete are proposed for the axial tension performance of SCFT.Based on the MSC.MARC software,a special fiber beam-column element is proposed to include the confining effect of SCFTs under tension and verified.The proposed analytical theory,effective formulas,and equivalent constitutive laws are extensively verified against three available tests reported in the literature on both global level(e.g.,load-displacement curves)and strain level.The experimental verification proves the accuracy of the proposed theory and formulations in simulating the performance of SCFT members under tension with the capability to accurately predict the tensile strength and stiffness enhancements and realistically simulate the fractal cracking phenomenon.

An Experimental Study on the Behavior of Square Concrete-Filled High Strength Steel Tube Columns

The paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of square concrete-filled high strength steel tube columns until failure.Four specimens were tested to investigate the effect of high strength steel and plain strength concrete on the load carrying capacity of the square concrete-filled steel tube columns.The effect of the concrete which filled in the steel tube was also investigated.Also,the effect of high strength steel and the presence of concrete were also investigated.The main parameters in the tests were:(1) the ultimate strength of steel (800 Mpa),(2) the presence of concrete in steel tube (hollow steel tube and concrete-filled steel tube),and (3) slender ratio.The main objectives of these tests were three-step:(1) to describe a series of tests on composite columns,(2) to analyze the influence of several parameters,and (3) to compare the accuracy of the predictions by using the specifications in the code (AISC-LRFD,EC4 and AIJ etc.) for the design of high-strength composite columns.Experimental results indicate that the ultimate strength of steel and presence of concrete had significant influence on both the axial compressive load capacity and the ductile of the square steel tube.