Approach for analyzing the ultimate strength of concrete filled steel tubular arch bridges with stiffening girder

A convenient approach is proposed for analyzing the ultimate load carrying capacity of concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridge with stiffening girders. A fiber model beam element is specially used to simulate the stiffening girder and CFST arch rib. The geometric nonlinearity, material nonlinearity, influence of the construction process and the contribution of prestressing reinforcement are all taken into consideration. The accuracy of this method is validated by comparing its results with experimental results. Finally, the ultimate strength of an abnormal CFST arch bridge with stiffening girders is investigated and the effect of construction method is discussed. It is concluded that the construction process has little effect on the ultimate strength of the bridge.

Numerical analysis of ultimate strength of concrete filled steel tubular arch bridges

The calculation of ultimate bearing capacity is a significant issue in the design of Concrete Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) arch bridges. Based on the space beam theory, this paper provides a calculation method for determining the ultimate strength of CFST structures. The accuracy of this method and the applicability of the stress-strain relationships were validated by comparing different existing confined concrete uniaxial constitutive relationships and experimental results. Comparison of these results indicated that this method using the confined concrete uniaxial stress-strain relationships can be used to calculate the ultimate strength and CFST behavior with satisfactory accuracy. The calculation results are stable and seldom affected by concrete con-stitutive relationships. The method is therefore valuable in the practice of engineering design. Finally, the ultimate strength of an arch bridge with span of 330 m was investigated by the proposed method and the nonlinear behavior was discussed.

Seismic behavior of concrete filled steel tubular arch structures

Shaking table tests of a 1:10 scale arch model performed to investigate the seismic behavior and resistance of concrete filled steel tubular (CFT) arch structures are described in this paper. The El-Centro record and Shanghai artificial wave were adopted as the input excitation. The entire test process can be divided into three stages depending on the lateral brace configurations, i.e., fully (five) braced, two braces removed, and all braces removed. A total of 46 tests, starting from the elastic state to failure condition, have been conducted. The natural vibration frequencies, responses of acceleration, displacement and strain were measured. From the test results, it is demonstrated that the CFT arch structures are capable of resisting severe ground motions and that CFT arches offer a credible alternative to reinforced concrete arches, especially in regions of high seismic intensity.

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）.

Research on seismic performance of shear walls with concrete filled steel tube columns and concealed steel trusses

In order to further improve the seismic performance of RC shear walls, a new composite shear wall with concrete filled steel tube （CFT） columns and concealed steel trusses is proposed. This new shear wall is a double composite shear wall; the first composite being the use of three different force systems, CFT, steel truss and shear wall, and the second the use of two different materials, steel and concrete. Three 1/5 scaled experimental specimens： a traditional RC shear wall, a shear wall with CFT columns, and a shear wall with CFT columns and concealed steel trusses, were tested under cyclic loading and the seismic performance indices of the shear walls were comparatively analyzed. Based on the data from these experiments, a thorough elastic-plastic finite element analysis and parametric analysis of the new shear walls were carried out using ABAQUS software. The finite element results of deformation, stress distribution, and the evolution of cracks in each phase were compared with the experimental results and showed good agreement. A mechanical model was also established for calculating the load-carrying capacity of the new composite shear walls. The results show that this new type of shear wall has improved seismic performance over the other two types of shear wails tested.

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.

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.

Quantifying Creep of Concrete Filled Steel Tubes

Using age adjusted effective modulus(AAEM)method,creep of concrete filled steel tube(CFST)member was formulated considering of creep coefficient and aging coefficient.Ten CFST specimens were tested including eight for creep and two for shrinkage.The experimental result was compared with the computed result using AAEM in which the creep coefficient was taken from calibration of ACI model based on experimental result on sealed concrete,and aging coefficient was supplied from relaxation test on sealed concrete specimen.Furthermore,the creep of CFST member was analyzed using author's own subroutine to input concrete properties through user programmable feature(UPF)in ANSYS software.Comparison was made on authors' own experimental database,some existing experimental results,and results from AAEM and numerical analysis.Finally,the conditions of applicability of AAEM method are put forward,and numerical approach to compute creep of CFST specimen is delineated.

Research on stress concentration at tubular joints in concrete filled steel tubular truss arch bridge

In this paper stresses at joints forming by hollow steel tube and concrete filled steel tube （CFST） are calculated, analyzed and compared. It is founded that the stress concentration at joints of CFST is a quite different from that of hollow steel tube. A conclusion can be made that analysis of fatigue at the joints of CFST truss arch bridge can not apply the results developed from analyzing at joints of hollow steel tube in marine structure.

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.

THE SHRINKAGE OF EXPANSIVE CONCRETE FILLED STEEL TUBE AND ITS IMPROVEMENT METHOD

The shrinkage characteristics tics of expansive concrete filled steel tube (CFST) are analyzed, Cold shrinkage, creep and autogenous shrinkage are considered as the main reasons of causing CFST contraction. In accordance with the shrinkage characteristics of expansive CFST, a kind of energy-stored delayed expansive agent is exploited, which can not only compensate the shrinkage of the core concrete in every stages, but also make CFST expand according to the delayed expansion mechanism. As the result, the prestress loss weill be reduced and expansive energy will be utilized effectively.

Application of Large-diameter and Long-span Micro-expansive Pumping Concrete Filled Steel Tube Arch Bridge

In this article the high strength micro-expansive concrete that has been applied on big-diameter and long-span steel arch bridge is researched. The applications show that the concrete has some merits, such as good fluidity, low bleeding ratio and no segregation, low slump loss, high early strength and high later strength, micro-expansion etc.

Experimental investigation of seismic performance of concrete-filled glass fiber reinforced polymer tubular columns

A reinforced concrete (RC) column and four concrete filled GFRP tubular columns,which are subjected to combined axial compression and lateral cycle loading,were tested in order to investigate the seismic performance of composite construction concrete filled glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubular (CFFT) columns.The results indicated that concrete-filled GFRP tubular columns exhibit considerable influence over the seismic performance of columns by providing hoop confinement to the core concrete.The concrete filled GFRP tubular columns exhibit significant improvement over traditional RC columns in both ultimate strength and ductility.Different column-footing connection modes do not affect the strength and ductility of concrete filled GFRP tubular columns.The strength of concrete filled GFRP tubular columns under high axial compression load conditions are slightly increased,however,ductility declined.

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.

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.

Hysteretic behavior of post-tensioned precast segmental CFT double-column piers

Considering the desirable behavior of concrete filled steel tube(CFT)columns and the complicated behavior of segmental double-column piers under cyclic loads,three post-tensioned precast segmental CFT double-column pier specimens were tested to extend their application in moderate and high seismicity areas.The effects of the number of CFT segments and the steel endplates as energy dissipaters on the seismic behavior of the piers were evaluated.The experimental results show that the segmental piers exhibited stable hysteretic behavior with small residual displacements under cyclic loads.All the tested specimens achieved a drift ratio no less than 13%without significant damage and strength deterioration due to the desirable behavior of CFT columns.Since the deformation of segmental columns was mainly concentrated at the column-footing interfaces,the increase of the segment numbers for each column had no obvious effects on the loading capacity but reduced the initial stiffness of the specimens.The use of steel endplates improved the bearing capacity,stiffness and energy dissipation of segmental piers,but weakened their self-centering capacity.Fiber models were also proposed to simulate the hysteretic behavior of the tested specimens,and the influences of segment numbers and prestress levels on seismic behavior were further studied.

Strength of Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Columns

Composite columns of steel and concrete have been used and studied world wide, but filled tubular columns need more attention. This paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of short concrete filled steel tubular columns （CFT） axially loaded in compression to failure. A total of 28 specimens （16 were filled with concrete and 12 were kept hollow） with different cross-sections were tested to investigate the load capacity. The length-to-diameter ratios of these columns were between 4 and 9. Parameters for the tests were tube shape and diameter-to-thickness ratio. Some of the concrete filled columns had internal bracing of #3 deformed bars. The test results are compared with the theoretical results and previous studies. The results show that the confinement effect on concrete does play a role in increasing the compressive strengths to almost 60% in some cases. Based on the test results, an equation to estimate the ultimate axial compressive loading capacities is also proposed for square CFT 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.

Experimental research on self-stressing and self-compacting concrete filled steel tube columns subjected to eccentric load

A total of fifteen self-stressing and selfcompacting concrete(SSC)filled steel tube columns and three common self-compacting concrete filled steel tube(CFST)columns are tested under eccentric compression load to analyze the the effect of initial self-stress on the compression behavior of CFSTs.The results show that the elastic working range of the columns is lengthened because of initial self-stress and it slightly decreases with the increase of load eccentricity ratio and slenderness ratio.Because of the initial self-stress,the concrete core is always under compression in three directions,so the compactness is enhanced and the ultimate bearing capacity obviously increases;but the initial self-stress hardly affects the failure mode of the columns.

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.