Bearing capacity of composite columns reinforced by concrete filled steel tube

In this study, nine simplified short composite columns consisting of core CFST (concrete filled steel tube) of different diameters and outer reinforced concrete were constructed to study their compressive performance under axial or eccentric compression. The failure mode is characterized by the crush of the outer concrete. The bearing capacity increases at first and then decreases with further increase of the position coefficient. It can be concluded that position coefficient is an important structural parameter that has considerable influences on the ultimate bearing capacity of the composite columns. The outer concrete, steel tubes and longitudinal reinforcement are found to work in a cooperative manner under axial or eccentric compression when the position coefficient is about 0.5. An improved bearing capacity algorithm that takes the position coefficient into account has been proposed based on the experimental and simulation results and current technical specification in China. It has been proven to be precise and safe.

Damage assessment for seismic response of recycled concrete filled steel tube columns

A model for evaluating structural damage of recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube （RCFST） columns under seismic effects is proposed in this paper. The proposed model takes the lateral deformation and the effect of repeated cyclic loading into account. Available test results were collected and utilized to calibrate the parameters of the proposed model. A seismic test for six RCFST columns was also performed to validate the proposed damage assessment model. The main test parameters were the recycled coarse aggregate （RCA） replacement percentage and the bond-slip property. The test results indicated that the seismic performance of the RCFST member depends on the RCA contents and their damage index increases as the RCA replacement percentage increases. It is also indicated that the damage degree of RCFST changes with the variation of the RCA replacement percentage. Finally, comparisons between the RCA contents, lateral deformation ratio and damage degree were implemented. It is suggested that an improvement procedure should be implemented in order to compensate for the performance difference between the RCFST and normal concrete filled steel tubes （CFST）.

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.

Three-dimensional nonlinear analysis of creep in concrete filled steel tube columns

This paper proposes a based on 3D-VLE （three-dimensional nonlinear viscoelastic theory） three-parameters viscoelastic model for studying the time-dependent behaviour of concrete filled steel tube （CFT） columns. The method of 3D-VLE was developed to analyze the effects of concrete creep behavior on CFT structures. After the evaluation of the parameters in the proposed creep model, experimental measurements of two prestressed reinforced concrete beams were used to investigate the creep phenomenon of three CFT columns under long-term axial and eccentric load was investigated. The experimentally obtained time-dependent creep behaviour accorded well with the cu~＇es obtained from the proposed method. Many factors （such as ratio of long-term load to strength, slenderness ratio, steel ratio, and eccentricity ratio） were considered to obtain the regularity of influence of concrete creep on CFT structures. The analytical results can be consulted in the engineering practice and design.

Performance Investigation of Square Concrete-filled Steel Tube Columns

The behaviour of square concrete-filled steel tube columns under concentrical loading was studied. More than one hundred specimens were tested to investigate the effects of thickness of steel tube on the load carrying capacity of the concrete-filled tubular columns （CFTs）. The effect of the grade of concrete and content of expansive agent were also investigated. The effect of these parameters on the confinement of the concrete core was studied as well. From the experimental study it was found that for both CFTs with different strength grade concrete core, the ultimate load carrying capacity increases with the increase in percentage of expansive agent up to 20% but it again decreases at 25% of expansive agent content. It was also shown that the failure mode of CFTs depends on the strength grade of concrete core.

Axial Bearing Capacity of Short FRP Confined Concrete-filled Steel Tubular Columns

The bearing capacity of FRP confined concrete-filled steel tubular （FRP-CFST） columns under axial compression was investigated. This new type of composite column is a concrete-filled steel tube （CFST） confined with fiber-reinforced polymer （FRP） wraps. Totally 11 short column specimens were tested to failure under axial compression. The influences of the type and quantity of FRP, the thickness of steel tube and the concrete strength were studied. It was found that the bearing capacity of short FRP-CFST column was much higher than that of comparable CFST column. Furthermore, the formulas for calculating the bearing capacity of the FRP-CFST columns are proposed. The analytical calculated results agree well with the experimental results.

Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Arch Bridges in China

In the past 20 years, great progress has been achieved in China in the construction of concrete-filled steel tube （CFST） arch bridges and concrete arch bridges with a CFST skeleton. The span of these bridges has been increasing rapidly, which is rare in the history of bridge development. The large-scale construction of expressways and high-speed railways demands the development of long-span arch bridges, and advances in design and construction techniques have made it possible to construct such bridges. In the present study, the current status, development, and major innovative technologies of CFST arch bridges and concrete arch bridges with a CFST skeleton in China are elaborated. This paper covers the key con- struction technologies of CFST arch bridges, such as the design, manufacture, and installation of steel tube arch trusses, the preparation and pouring of in-tube concrete, and the construction of the world＇s longest CFST arch bridge-the First Hejiang Yangtze River Bridge. The main construction technologies of rein- forced concrete arch bridges are also presented, which include cable-stayed fastening-hanging cantilever assembly, adjusting the load by means of stay cables, surrounding the concrete for arch rib pouring, and so forth. In addition, the construction of two CFST skeleton concrete arch bridges-the Guangxi Yongning Yong River Bridge and the Yunnan-Guangxi Railway Nanpan River Bridge--is discussed. CFST arch bridges in China have already gained a world-leading position; with the continuous innovation of key technologies, China will become the new leader in promoting the development of arch bridges.

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.

Flexural Behavior of FRP-Reinforced Concrete Composite Member

Concrete Filled FRP （Reinforced Polymeric Plastic） Tubes （CFFT） and Reinforced Concrete Filled FRP Tubes （RCFFT） are known to have the capability to enhance structural performance in terms of structural stability, ductility, as well as chemical resistance when compared with conventional concrete members. In this study, the authors evaluate the structural performance of the CFFT and the RCFFT through flexural tests for the purpose of applying the members as flexural ones. Moreover, the compressive behavior of the CFFT and the RCFFT members was investigated to examine their confinement effects. Based on the experimental and analytical results of the compressive behavior of the members, equations for estimating the ultimate compressive strengths of the CFFT and the RCFFT were proposed. In addition, the degree of improvement on the flexural performance of the RCFFT member strengthened by the FRP was analyzed from the flexural tests.

Unified bearing capacity model of confined concrete column subjected to axial compression

To better study the behavior of confined concrete, this paper presents the basic hypothesis of uhimate equilibrium of confined concrete and the unified yield criteria of confining material. Based on the static equilibrium condition and yield criteria of components, a unified bearing capacity model of confined concrete column is proposed, and a simplified calculating equation of the model is also given. The model captures the character of confined concrete column. Effects of the confinement effect ratio, the lateral confinement ratio, unconfined concrete strength and the properties of confining material on the bearing capacity of confined concrete column are carefully considered. The model may be applicable to the calculation of bearing capacity of steel-confined concrete, concrete filled steel tube and FRP-confined concrete. The predictions of the model agree well with test data.

Seismic behavior of thin-walled circular and stiffened square steel tubed-reinforced-concrete columns

Steel tubed-reinforced-concrete(TRC) columns have been gradually used in the construction of high-rise buildings recently because of their high axial load-carrying capacities and excellent seismic behavior. Existing studies about their seismic behavior were focused on columns with relatively thick tubes, i.e., diameter-to-thickness/width-to-thickness(D/t) ratios were below 100,while little is known about thin-walled TRC columns, especially for square TRC columns. Considering the infilled concrete of square TRC columns is non-uniformly and non-effectively confined, accordingly, stiffened square TRC columns are usually adopted in practice. Thus, two thin-walled circular TRC columns(D/t=120) and two stiffened square ones with diagonal stiffeners in plastic hinge regions(D/t=106) were tested under a constant axial compression combined with cyclic lateral loading.Both the circular and stiffened square TRC columns had the same cross sectional area, tube thickness, reinforcing bar ratio and column height. Flexural failure occurred for all the four specimens. Test results showed the strengths of the stiffened square TRC columns were a little higher in comparison to their circular counterparts; the ductility and energy dissipation capacities were excellent for both the stiffened and circular TRC columns, indicating very good confinement was gained from the yielded steel tubes of the plastic hinge regions at the peak loads. And shear stresses(35–90 MPa) in the sheared plates showed their moderate contribution of carrying lateral loads. Finally, cross sectional capacity analysis results demonstrated the method for TRC columns is acceptable for the stiffened square TRC columns.

Mechanical behavior of concrete filled glass fiber reinforced polymer-steel tube under cyclic loading

The mechanical behavior of concrete-filled glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP)-steel tube structures under combined seismic loading is investigated in this study. Four same-sized specimens with different GFRP layout modes were tested by a quasi-static test system. Finite element analysis(FEA) was also undertaken and the results were presented. Results of the numerical simulation compared well with those from experimental tests. Parametric analysis was conducted by using the FE models to evaluate the effects of GFRP thickness, axial compression rate, and cross sectional steel ratio. The experimental and numerical results show that the technique of GFRP strengthening is effective in improving the seismic performance of traditional concrete-filled steel tubes, with variations related to different GFRP layout modes.

Behaviors of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular columns under eccentric loadings

The paper investigates the behaviors of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular(RACFST)columns under eccentric loadings with the incorporation of expansive agents.A total of 16 RACFST columns were tested in this study.The main parameters varied in this study are recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages(0%,30%,50%,70%,and 100%),expansive agent dosages(0%,8%,and 15%)and an eccentric distance of compressive load from the center of the column(0 and 40 mm).Experimental results showed that the ultimate stresses of RACFST columns decreased with increasing recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages but appropriate expansive agent dosages can reduce the decrement;the incorporation of expansive agent decreased the ultimate stresses of RACFST columns but an appropriate dosage can increase the deformation ability.The recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages have limited influence on the ultimate stresses of the RACFST columns and has more effect than that of the normal aggregate concretesteel tubular columns.

Analysis and seismic tests of composite shear walls with CFST columns and steel plate deep beams

A composite shear wall concept based on concrete filled steel tube （CFST） columns and steel plate （SP） deep beams is proposed and examined in this study. The new wall is composed of three different energy dissipation elements： CFST columns; SP deep beams; and reinforced concrete （RC） strips. The RC strips are intended to allow the core structural elements - the CFST columns and SP deep beams - to work as a single structure to consume energy. Six specimens of different configurations were tested under cyclic loading. The resulting data are analyzed herein. In addition, numerical simulations of the stress and damage processes for each specimen were carried out, and simulations were completed for a range of location and span-height ratio variations for the SP beams. The simulations show good agreement with the test results. The core structure exhibits a ductile yielding mechanism characteristic of strong column-weak beam structures, hysteretic curves are plump and the composite shear wall exhibits several seismic defense lines. The deformation of the shear wall specimens with encased CFST column and SP deep beam design appears to be closer to that of entire shear walls. Establishing optimal design parameters for the configuration of SP deep beams is pivotal to the best seismic behavior of the wall. The new composite shear wall is therefore suitable for use in the seismic design of building structures.

Push-Over Analysis of the Seismic Behavior of a Concrete-Filled Rectangular Tubular Frame Structure

To investigate the seismic behavior of concrete-filled rectangular steel tube （CFRT） structures, a push-over analysis of a 10-story moment resisting frame （MRF） composed of CFRT columns and steel beams was conducted. The results show that push-over analysis is sensitive to the lateral load patterns, so the use of at least two load patterns that are expected to bound the inertia force distributions is recommended. The M-Ф curves and N-M interaction surfaces of the CFRT columns calculated either by Han＇s formulae or by the USC-RC program （reinforced concrete program put forward by University of Southern Califonia） are suitable for future push-over analyses of CFRT structures. The P-A effect affects the MRF seismic behavior seriously, and so should be taken into account in MRF seismic analysis. In addition, three kinds of RC structures were analyzed to allow a comparison of the earthquake resistance behavior of CFRT structures and RC structures. The results show that the ductility and seismic performance of CFRT structures are superior to those of RC structures. Consequently, CFRT structures are recommended in seismic regions.

A New Method for Predicting the UL of Circular CFST Columns

Concrete filled steel tube structures have gained booming development in recent decades, especially in China. Simplified methods have been proposed in design codes, such as the Eurocode 4 (EC4) and the China engineering and construction specification (CECS). In EC4, the confinement effect is reasonably related to slenderness and load eccentricity. The CECS method is much straight forward in that the slenderness ratio and load eccentricity are treated as independent reduction factors. To make use of the advantages of both the CECS and the EC4 methods, the CECS method is modified to consider the confinement effect associated with slenderness and load eccentricity. It is shown that the proposed method can predict well the ultimate load capacity of circular section concrete filled steel tube columns.

SRPE管约束GFRP海砂混凝土柱的轴压力学性能研究

采用试验与数值模拟相结合的方法,研究了钢骨架增强聚乙烯(SRPE)管约束玻璃纤维增强塑料(GFRP)海砂混凝土柱的力学性能和受力机理。通过24个轴压短柱试验,研究SRPE管钢丝体积配箍率、混凝土强度和GFRP箍筋间距等参数对组合柱力学性能的影响规律;在确定合理材料本构模型的基础上,运用ABAQUS有限元软件进行数值模拟和参数分析。结果表明:在试验参数范围内组合柱虽均发生剪切破坏,但仍具有较好的延性,说明SRPE管和GFRP箍筋对海砂混凝土形成了良好的约束效应;有限元数值参数分析结果表明,提高环向钢丝体积配箍率能显著提升峰值承载力、剩余承载力和延性,提高混凝土强度能显著提升峰值承载力、剩余承载力和弹性刚度,但延性明显降低,其他参数对组合柱力学性能的影响程度不显著;基于参数分析结果,提出了组合柱轴压承载力和峰值应变简化计算式,可为类似工程实践提供参考。

L形冷弯薄壁型钢组合钢管混凝土柱轴压性能

为解决异形钢管混凝土柱阴角对其承载力的影响,提出了用1个冷弯薄壁方钢管和2个U形钢管焊接成L形钢管,内填充混凝土形成L形冷弯薄壁型钢组合钢管混凝土柱形式。设计了5组共10根试件的轴压试验,并开展了有限元参数分析,研究了钢管厚度、U形管外伸长度和钢材强度等参数对构件承载力和延性等力学性能的影响。结果表明:该类试件的主要破坏形态为中上部局部鼓曲破坏,适量增大U形管外伸长度可以提高承载力,但增大到一定程度之后易发生弯扭破坏;承载力和延性随着钢管厚度和钢材强度增大而增加;混凝土强度对构件的初始刚度和峰值荷载的影响都很小,但对曲线下降段的影响较大;试件端部和中部截面阴角处的混凝土应力值比各边中部更大,说明采用U形钢管与方钢管组合的方式改善了阴角处钢管对混凝土约束普遍较弱的问题。基于“统一理论”,给出了两种承载力建议计算公式,与试验结果吻合较好,两种计算方法在0.44~1.94的约束效应系数范围内具有良好的适用性。

双壁波纹钢管混凝土构件短柱轴压力学性能

为改善空心钢筋混凝土柱(HRC)的使用与受力性能,提出一种双壁波纹钢管混凝土(CFDCST)构件。本文共进行了4个大尺寸双壁波纹钢管混凝土短柱与2个空心钢筋混凝土短柱的轴压试验,关键试验参数为试件类型与波纹钢管类型。分析构件的破坏模式,对比不同参数下构件的承载力、峰值应变、延性系数等关键力学指标,获得荷载-波纹钢管应变关系曲线以揭示试件的约束机理并验证外波纹钢管类型的影响。试验结果表明:外波纹钢管可为夹层混凝土提供约束作用,且螺旋角越小,外波纹钢管的约束作用越强;内波纹钢管则主要为夹层混凝土内壁提供有效支撑,以保持截面的完整性。名义约束效应系数与空心率相近时,由于咬口滑移影响,大螺旋角双壁波纹钢管混凝土比小螺旋角双壁波纹钢管混凝土的峰值应力、峰值应变与延性系数分别降低15.5%、21.8%与16.7%。在总用钢量相近的情况下,小螺旋角双壁波纹钢管混凝土柱的承载力、峰值应变与延性系数分别比空心钢筋混凝土柱提高10.6%、36.2%与50.0%。基于试验结果,检验了3种典型承载力公式的适用性,并提出了相应设计建议。

L形方钢管再生混凝土组合异形柱偏压承载力计算方法

基于叠加原理,在《矩形钢管混凝土组合异形柱技术规程》提供的理论计算公式基础上,研究了L形方钢管再生混凝土组合异形柱偏压承载力计算方法。在考虑再生混凝土有效约束面积影响的基础上,提出了L形方钢管再生混凝土组合异形柱偏压承载力计算公式,绘制出轴力-弯矩关系曲线。结果表明:通过引入钢管对内填再生混凝土的约束效应系数,考虑钢管对不同粗骨料取代率再生混凝土的有效约束作用,并根据约束强弱将钢管对内填再生混凝土的约束区域进行划分,可得到再生混凝土的有效约束面积;通过与试验及数值模拟结果对比,验证了L形方钢管再生混凝土组合异形柱偏压承载力计算公式的有效性,该公式可用于预测L形方钢管再生混凝土组合异形柱的偏压承载力,轴力-弯矩关系曲线可较为准确且安全地预测试件的承载力。