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.

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 Behavior of Diaphragm-Through Connections of Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubular Columns and H-Shaped Steel Beams

Based on the introductions of a type of diaphragm-through connection between concrete-filled square steel tubular columns (CFSSTCs) and H-shaped steel beams,a finite element model of the connection is developed and used to investigate the seismic behavior of the connection.The results of the finite element model are validated by a set of cyclic loading tests.The cyclic loading tests and the finite element analyses indicate that the failure mode of the suggested connections is plastic hinge at the beam with inelastic rotation angle exceeding 0.04 rad.The suggested connections have sufficient strength,plastic deformation and energy dissipation capacity to be used in composite moment frames as beam-to-column rigid connections.

Influence of Axial Load Ratio on Shear Behavior of Through-Diaphragm Connections of Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubular Columns

Nonlinear finite element analysis and parametric studies were carried out to study the influence of axial load ratio on the shear behavior of the through-diaphragm connections of concrete-filled square steel tubular columns. The analysis reveals that smaller axial load ratio can improve the shear bearing capacity and ductility while larger axial load ratio will decrease the shear behavior of the through-diaphragm connections. The parametric studies indicate that the axial load ratio should be limited to less than 0.4 and its influence should be considered in the analysis and design of such connections.

Experimental research on ultimate bearing capacity of N-joints of grouted square steel tube trusses

Cave-in failure is apt to occur in joints of trusses made of square hollow sections. In order to turn the failure mode into a strength failure mode of joint members, the idea is proposed that the chord of the truss is grouted to increase the cave-in beating capacity of a hollow tube chord. An experiment of eight specimens of N- joints made of grout-filled square steel tubes is performed. Based on the experimental study, the geometrical parameters of specimens are analyzed, and the effects of the confinement index ε, the spacing between the two web members g and the ratio of side length of the vertical web member to that of the chord β on the behavior of specimens are investigated through simulation analysis by simulation analyses, the mechanical properties and the failure an ANSYS program. Based on the test results and modes of this kind of joints are analyzed and the formulae to predict the ultimate bearing capacities corresponding to different failure modes are developed. The ultimate bearing capacity of compressive N-joints is calculated in accordance with the cave-in failure mode of a chord member; the ultimate bearing capacity of tension N-joints is calculated in accordance with the punchingshear failure mode; the ultimate bearing capacity of a chord member is calculated in accordance with the shear failure mode in normal sections.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Joint member angle limits of composite beams and CFT square columns

This work aims to understand the relationship between the member angle limit and the energy ratio for 24 test samples of composite beams and CFT square steel tube columns. This work also compares the formula applicability for member angle limit with the previous test result to provide the basic data for the design of composite beam-CFT column. The evaluation of the member angle limit was performed with concrete compressive strength (fC =22.16 MPa, 30.49 MPa), breadth-to-thickness ratio (B/t=25.0, 33.3, 43.5), and axial capacity ratio (N/N0=0, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) as the main variables of the test samples. For the relationship between the member angle limit (Ru) and the energy ratio (ES/EC ), the test result shows that the energy ratio becomes lower as the axial capacity ratio and the breadth-to-thickness ratio increase. The energy ratio is lower for the Type B test sample compared with that of Types A and C. For the formula suggested by SATO, the test samples are distributed evenly for comparison between test values and the member angle limit; however, other formulas indicate a deviation. Specifically, for the comparison between R u,cal and R u (Test), Maeda's formula shows severe deviation.

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.