Experimental investigation of axially loaded steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete-filled steel tube columns

An experimental study on the compressive behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete-filled steel tube columns is presented. Specimens were tested to investigate the effects of the concrete strength, the thickness of steel tube and the steel fiber volume fraction on the ultimate strength and the ductility. The experimental results indicate that the addition of steel fibers in concrete can significantly improve the ductility and the energy dissipation capacity of the concrete-filled steel tube columns and delay the local buckling of the steel tube, but has no obvious effect on the failure mode. It has also been found that the addition of steel fibers is a more effective method than using thicker steel tube in enhancing the ductility, and more advantageous in the case of higher strength concrete. An analytical model to estimate the load capacity is proposed for steel tube columns filled with both plain concrete and steel fiber reinforced concrete. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental ones obtained in this work and literatures.

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.

Axial Compression Behavior and Analytical Method of L-Shaped Column Composed of Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubes

Based on the characteristics of an L-shaped column composed of concrete-filled square steel tubes, the axial compression experiment and nonlinear finite element analysis were carried out to study the mechanical property of the L-shaped column. The load-displacement curve for the L-shaped column, the deflection and load-strain curves for the mono columns were obtained by the axial compression experiment. The results show that the L-shaped column exhibits a flexural-torsional buckling failure mode. The numerical simulation by the finite element analysis shows that the bearing capacity and failure mode are in accordance with those of the axial compression experiment and the feasi- bility of the finite element analysis is proved. For the calculation of the bearing capacity of the L-shaped column com- posed of concrete-filled square steel tubes, an analytical method is proposed based on the theory of the elastic stability and spatial truss model. The results of the analytical method are in good agreement with those of the axial compression experiment and the finite element analysis.

Effect of contact thermal resistance on temperature distributions of concrete-filled steel tubes in fire

To predicate the temperature distribution of concrete-filled steel tubes(CFSTs) being exposure to fire,a finite element analysis model was developed using a finite element package,ANSYS.A suggested value of contact thermal resistance was therefore proposed with the supporting of massive numbers of collected test data.Parametric analysis was conducted subsequently towards the cross-sectional temperature distribution of CFST columns in four-side fire,in which the exposure time,width of the cross section,steel ratio were taken into account with considering contact thermal resistance.It was found that contact thermal resistance has little effect on the overall temperature regulation with the exposure time,the width of cross-section or the change of steel ratio.However,great temperature dropping at the concrete adjacent to the contact interface,and gentle temperature increase at steel tube,exist if considering contact thermal resistance.The results of the study are expected to provide theoretical basis for the fire resistance behavior and design of the CFST columns being exposure to fire.

Bending behaviour of lightweight aggregate concrete-filled steel tube spatial truss beam

A lightweight aggregate concrete-filled steel tube(LACFST) spatial truss beam was tested under bending load. The performance was studied by the analysis of the beam deflection and strains in its chords and webs. According to the test results, several assumptions were made to deduce the bearing capacity calculation method based on the force balance of the whole section. An optimal dimension relationship for the truss beam chords was proposed and verified by finite element analysis. Results show that the LACFST spatial truss beam failed after excessive deflection. The strain distribution agreed with Bernoulli-Euler theoretical prediction. The truss beam flexural bearing capacity calculation results matched test evidence with only a 3% difference between the two. Finite element analyses with different chord dimensions show that the ultimate bearing capacity increases as the chord dimensions increase when the chords have a diameter smaller than optimal one; otherwise, it remains almost unchanged as the chord dimensions increase.

Application of Compactness Detection to Complicated Concrete-Filled Steel Tube by Ultrasonic Method

An example of using ultrasonic method to detect the compactness of complicated concrete-filled steel tube in certain high-rise building was discussed in this study.Because of the particularity of the complicated concrete-filled steel tubular column,the plane detection method and embedded sounding pipe method were adopted in the process of effectively detecting the column.According to the results of the plane detection method and embedded sounding pipe method,the cementing status of steel tube and concrete can be concluded,which cannot be judged by the hammering method in the rectangular steel tube-reinforced concrete.

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.

Reliability analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tube with material and geometrical nonlinearity

Most of the previous research on concrete-filled steel tube is restricted to a deterministic approach. To gain clear insight into the random properties of circular concrete-filled steel tube, reliability analysis is carried out in the present study. To obtain the Structural nonlinear response and ultimate resistance capacity, material and geometrical nonlinear analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tube is performed with a three-dimensional degenerated beam ele- ment. Then we investigate the reliability of concrete-filled steel tube using the first-order reliability method combined with nonlinear finite element analysis. The influences of such parameters as material strength, slenderness, initial geo- metrical imperfection, etc. on the reliability of circular concrete-filled steel tube column are studied. It can be con- cluded that inevitable random fluctuation of those parameters has significant influence on structural reliability, and that stochastic or reliability methods can provide a more rational and subjective evaluation on the safety of CFT structures than a deterministic approach.

A new calculation method for axial load capacity of separated concrete-filled steel tubes based on limit equilibrium theory

A new calculation method for axial load capacity of separated concrete-filled steel tubes based on limit equilibrium theory was proposed,which took into account the decrease of confinement effect by steel tube and the non-uniform distribution of ultimate stress in cored concrete.The accuracy of the analytical result is validated through running the numerical result by finite element method (FEM) and experimental data as well.The influences of the key parameters on the load capacity of the concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) was studied,including the separation ratio,concrete compressive strength,and steel strength.The results indicate that the load capacity of the tube increases with concrete strength and steel strength under the separation ratio less than 4%,while decreases with a higher separation ratio improved.

Experimental study on centrifugal concrete-filled steel tubes under bending and torsion

A real-size experiment on 11 tubes was done to study the performance o f centrifugal concrete-filled steel tubes under bending and torsion. This pape r first introduces the relevant operating method,equipment,subjects and process es. The factors that affect deformation and stiffness and the break mechanism un der different loading were studied. Experimental stress analysis showed that the values of practical critical stress of steel tubes accorded well with the MISES Yielding Rule. The correlative equation (on the bearing capacity of a structura l member under bending and torsion) deduced in this study may provide valuable reference for the design of this structural member.

Ductility and Ultimate Capacity of Concrete-Filled Lattice Rectangular Steel Tube Columns

A kind of concrete-filled lattice rectangular steel tube(CFLRST)column was put forward.The numerical simulation was modeled to analyze the mechanical characteristic of CFLRST column.By comparing the load-deformation curves from the test results,the rationality and reliability of the finite element model has been confirmed,moreover,the change of the section stiffness and stress in the forcing process and the ultimate bearing capacity of the column were analyzed.Based on the model,the comparison of ultimate bearing capacity and ductility between CFLRST column and reinforced concrete(RC)column were also analyzed.The results of the finite element analysis show that the loading process of CFLRST column consists of elastic stage,yield stage and failure stage.The failure modes are mainly strength failure and failure of elastoplastic instability.CFLRST column has higher bearing capacities in comparison with reinforced concrete columns with the same steel ratio.In addition,the stiffness degeneration of CFLRST column is slower than RC column and CFLRST column has good ductility.

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.

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.

Natural Vibration Characteristics for Prestressed Concrete-Filled Rectangular Steel Tube Simply Supported Beam

The dynamic control equation of a new prestressed partially concrete-filled rectangular steel tube(CFRT)beam can be derived based on D’Alembert’s principle.It is used to infer the theoretical results of the dynamic characteristics for the prestressed CFRT beam.Additionally,the finite element model is set up by ABAQUS for simulation analysis.The results show that the natural vibration frequencies and mode function of the prestressed CFRT simply supported beam calculated by the theoretical formulas are reliable since the relative errors of the first-order frequencies under different prestressing levels are within 6%compared with the finite element results.Further analysis of the prestressing parameters is carried out using the theoretical formulas,in which factors such as the prestressing level,eccentricity of tendons,and tensile stiffness of prestressed tendons have different influences on the natural vibration frequencies.Finally,it provides a theoretical basis for the dynamic design of the prestressed CFRT beams.

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.

Expansive Performance of Self-stressing and Self-compacting Concrete Confined with Steel Tube

Combining with the technology of self-compacting concrete, self-stressing concrete and concrete-filled steel tube, we can get self-compacting and self-stressing concrete-filled steel tube. In order to study the expansive mechanism of self-stressing concrete, the continuous observation of 47 days on six specimens was carried on. The specimens have different steel area to concrete area ratio. The expansive process in hoop and axial direction were studied, and the expansive mechanism was discussed too. The experimental results identify that the creep and elastic deformation take a large proportion in effective free expansion. The calculating formulas of self-stress in hoop and axial directions were presented here.

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.

Experimental Study on Seismic Behavior ofSeismic-damaged Lateral Joints in CompositeFrame Consisting of CFSST Columns and SteelBeams Strengthened with Enclosed ReinforcedConcrete

A new composite strengthening method of seismic-damaged lateral joints in composite frame consisting of Concrete-Filled SquareSteel Tubes （CFSST） columns and steel beams strengthened with enclosed Reinforced Concrete （RC） at the ends of columns andwelding steel plates at the ends of beams was presented. Based on the current design specifications, one half scaled models of 4lateral joints in composite frame consisting of CFSST columns and steel beams were designed and manufactured. One model wasoriginal control specimen, one was strengthened by enclosed RC, and the others were strengthened after pre-damage. The destructiontests under lateral cyclic load on the models were carried. The effectiveness of seismic-damaged joints strengthened with enclosedRC and the reinforcement effect on different levels of seismic damage were studied. The test results show that seismic- damagedjoints in composite frame consisting of CFSST columns and steel beams strengthened with enclosed RC meets the strongcolumn-weak beam joints requirement of seismic design, and the failure modes are of all joints are the bending failure of steel beam.The reinforcement with enclosed RC has a significant on increasing the ultimate capacity and the seismic behaviors of joints. Thestudy indicated the rehabilitated joints recover the level of their original seismic performances before seismic damage in a certainextent damage level. Based on the test data, namely the ultimate capacity, limit displacement, ductility, the energy consumptioncoefficient, limit displacementthe strengthening method of seismic-damaged joints by strengthened with enclosed RC is an effectivemethod for seismic strengthening.

Determination of continuous constitutive relationship of weld zone of high-strength steel rectangular welded tube

For QSTE700 high-strength steel rectangular welded tube,the mechanical properties of the weld zone vary with the distancefrom the centerline of the weld.Therefore,the accurate description of constitutive relationship of the weld zone is of greatsignificance for the study of formability of QSTE700 rectangular welded tube.Firstly,the mechanical properties of parentand mixed specimens containing weld zone and parent zone were obtained by uniaxial tensile test.And based on the micro-hardness test,the width and the microhardness distribution of the weld zone were determined.Secondly,by subdividingthe weld zone into several small areas,and combining with the rule of mixtures and nanoindentation test,the continuous functional relationships of strength coefficient K,hardening coeffecient n and elastic modulus E were obtained,and then,the continuous constitutive relationship of QSTE700 rectangular welded tube was established.Finally,the validity and reliability of the continuous constitutive relationship of welded tube were verified by nanoindentation fest and rotary drawbending of rectangular welded tubc.Besides,it was found that the finite element model of rotary draw bending of QSTE700 rectangular welded tube established by using the continuous constitutive relationship can well simulate the cross sectiondeformation and wall thickness variation.

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.