Performance of axially restrained concrete encased steel composite columns at elevated temperatures

The structural performance of axially restrained concrete encased steel composite columns at elevated temperatures is investigated in this study. An efficient nonlinear 3-D finite element model was presented for the analysis of the pin-ended axially loaded columns. The restraint ratios varied from 20% to 100% of the axial stiffness of the composite columns at ambient temperature. The finite element model was verified against published test results on axially restrained concrete encased steel composite columns at elevated temperatures. The columns investigated had different cross-sectional dimensions, different coarse aggregates and different load ratios during fire. The nonlinear material properties of steel, concrete, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars as well as the effect of concrete confinement at ambient and elevated temperatures were considered in the finite element model. The interface between the steel section and concrete, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars, and the reinforcement bars and concrete were also considered allowing the bond behaviour to be modelled and the different components to retain its profile during the deformation of the column. The initial overall geometric imperfection was carefully included in the model. The time-temperature relationships, deformed shapes at failure, time-axial displacement relationships, failure modes and fire resistances of the columns were evaluated by the finite element model and compared well against test results. Furthermore, the variables that influence the fire resistance and behaviour of the axially restrained composite columns comprising different axial restraint ratios, different load ratios during fire, different coarse aggregates and different slenderness ratios were investigated in a parametric study. It is shown that axially restrained composite columns behave differently in fire compared to the unrestrained columns since the typical “runaway” failure was not predicted from the finite element analysis. The fire resistances of the composite columns obtained from the finite element analysis were compared with the design values obtained from the Eurocode 4 for composite columns at elevated temperatures. It is shown that the EC4 is generally conservative for all the axially restrained concrete encased steel composite columns, except for some columns with higher load and slenderness ratios.     

Behaviour of short and slender concrete-filled stainless steel tubular columns

In this paper, a series of tests were carried out on short and slender concrete-filled stainless steel tubular columns to explore their performance under axial compression or combined actions of axial force and bending moment. Empty short steel hollow sections were also tested for comparison. The test results showed that the performance of the composite columns was quite good and have the potential to be used extensively as structural members. Comparisons of the test results were also made with several existing design methods for conventional concrete-filled carbon steel tubular columns as presented in Australian standard AS 5100 (2004), American code AISC (2005), Chinese code DBJ/T 13-51-2010 (2010), and Eurocode 4 (2004), which indicates that all the codes are somewhat conservative in predicting the load-carrying capacities of both short and slender columns.     

Nonlinear behaviour of eccentrically loaded FR concrete-filled stainless steel tubular columns

This paper investigates the nonlinear behaviour of eccentrically loaded fibre reinforced (FR) concrete-filled stainless steel tubular composite columns. A nonlinear 3-D finite element model for the axially loaded composite columns, recently reported by the author, was extended to study the structural performance of the eccentrically loaded composite columns. The columns were pin-ended subjected to an eccentric load acting along one axis. The model accounted for the inelastic behaviour of the composite column components, effect of FR concrete confinement and interface between the stainless steel section and concrete. The measured initial local and overall geometric imperfections were carefully incorporated in the model. The finite element model has been validated against tests previously reported by the author. Furthermore, the variables that influence the eccentrically loaded composite column behaviour and strength comprising different eccentricities, different column slenderness and different concrete strengths were investigated in an extensive parametric study comprising 72 columns. The composite column strengths and moment resistances predicted from the finite element analysis were compared with the design composite column strengths and moment resistances calculated using the Eurocode 4. The study has shown that finite element modelling could effectively assess the accuracy of the design rules in current codes of practice.     

Investigation of concrete encased steel composite columns at elevated temperatures

This paper presents a nonlinear 3-D finite element model investigating the behaviour of concrete encased steel composite columns at elevated temperatures. The composite columns were pin-ended axially loaded columns having different cross-sectional dimensions, different structural steel sections, different coarse aggregates and different load ratios during fire. The nonlinear material properties of steel, concrete, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars as well as the effect of concrete confinement at ambient and elevated temperatures were considered in the finite element models. The interface between the steel section and concrete, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars, and the reinforcement bars and concrete were also considered allowing the bond behaviour to be modelled and the different components to retain its profile during the deformation of the column. The initial overall (out-of-straightness) geometric imperfection was carefully included in the model. The finite element model has been validated against published tests conducted at elevated temperatures. The time–temperature relationships, deformed shapes at failure, time–axial displacement relationships, failure modes and fire resistances of the columns were evaluated by the finite element model. It has been shown that the finite element model can accurately predict the behaviour of the columns at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the variables that influence the fire resistance and behaviour of the composite columns comprising different load ratios during fire, different coarse aggregates and different slenderness ratios were investigated in parametric studies. It is shown that the fire resistance of the columns generally increases with the decrease in the column slenderness ratio as well as the increase in the structural steel ratio. It is also shown that the time–axial displacement relationship is considerably affected by the coarse aggregate. The fire resistances of the composite columns obtained from the finite element analyses were compared with the design values obtained from the Eurocode 4 for composite columns at elevated temperatures. It is shown that the EC4 is conservative for all the concrete encased steel composite columns, except for the columns having a load ratio of 0.5 as well as the columns having a slenderness ratio of 0.69 and a load ratio of 0.4.     

Design of angle trusses by codes and second-order analysis with experimental verification

Popular national design codes provide varied buckling formulae for design of trusses composed of angle members under different end conditions. The reliability of these design methods highly depends on the accuracy in estimating the effective length, slenderness modification equations and the interaction equations. To date, design method using the second-order analysis has become popular because it captures directly the behavior in analysis and eliminates the error in a linear analysis and design such as assumption of the effective length factor. In this paper, the predicted failure loads of the angle trusses by different codified method would be compared with test results. Further, a refined second-order analysis method is proposed here to the design of angle trusses composed of single angle members with accuracy verified by comparing the predicted and the test results.     

Experimental investigation of eccentrically loaded fibre reinforced concrete-filled stainless steel tubular columns

This paper presents an experimental investigation of axially and eccentrically loaded plain and fibre reinforced (FR) concrete-filled stainless steel circular tubular columns. The composite columns were pin-ended subjected to axial and eccentric loads. The stainless steel tubes were relatively slender having a diameter-to-plate thickness ratio of 50. The composite columns had different lengths varied from 3D to 12D. The column ultimate loads, load–axial shortening relationships, load–strain relationships, load–mid-height lateral deflection relationships and failure modes of the concrete-filled stainless steel circular tubular columns were measured from the tests. The study has shown that FR concrete-filled stainless steel tubular columns offer a considerable increase in column ductility compared with plain concrete-filled tubular columns. The test ultimate loads were compared with the design ultimate loads calculated using the Eurocode 4 for composite columns. Generally, it has been shown that the EC4 accurately predicted the ultimate loads of axially loaded concrete-filled stainless steel circular tubular columns, but were quite conservative for predicting the ultimate loads of the eccentrically loaded columns. It has also been shown that the conservatism of the EC4 predictions is increased as the eccentricity is increased. The test results provide useful information regarding the behaviour of FR concrete-filled stainless steel columns.     

圆形钢管混凝土柱抗压强度

通过对24个钢管混凝土柱(CFST)施加轴向压力直到破坏的试验,以研究其性能。试验中考虑的变量包括钢管的长度、直径、强度和混凝土的强度。由于长细比较大,造成系列1中的所有组合柱发生整体弯曲屈曲而破坏。尽管系列2试验中的组合柱也经历了整体弯曲屈曲,但"短柱"的破坏是由混凝土压碎和钢管失效引起的。将试验结果与采用南非规范(SANS10162-1)和欧洲规范(EC4)计算得到的荷载值进行对比表明,2种规范结果均偏保守,对系列1试验,分别达到8.4%和13.6%,对系列2试验,分别达到10.5%和20.2%。压力与竖向变形曲线显示受压柱具有很好的延性。     

Furnace tests on unprotected and protected concrete filled structural hollow sections

The accurate prediction of cross-sectional temperatures within concrete filled steel hollow (CFS) sections is critical for the accurate prediction of fire resistance. Whilst there have been many thermal and structural tests conducted on CFS columns, there are few that report the full cross-sectional thermal profile, and when they are reported, the sensor density is low, hindering the ability to validate models. This paper presents furnace tests and thermal modelling on 14 unprotected and 20 protected CFS sections, and examines the effect of several parameters on cross-sectional thermal profiles, as well as assessing the accuracy of both Eurocode thermal analysis guidance and intumescent fire protection design guidance. This paper shows that; (a) the assumptions within the Eurocode guidance can lead to large over-estimations in cross-sectional temperatures; (b) proposes new thermal modelling assumptions in three key areas; and (c) shows that the current intumescent fire protection design guidance is very conservative.     

Numerical simulation of concrete encased steel composite columns

This paper investigates the behaviour of pin-ended axially loaded concrete encased steel composite columns. A nonlinear 3-D finite element model was developed to analyse the inelastic behaviour of steel, concrete, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars as well as the effect of concrete confinement of the concrete encased steel composite columns. The interface between the steel section and concrete, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars, and the reinforcement bars and concrete were also considered that allowed the bond behaviour to be modeled and the different components to retain their profile during the deformation of the column. Furthermore, the initial overall (out-of-straightness) geometric imperfection was carefully incorporated in the model. The finite element model has been validated against published experimental results. The main objective of the study was to understand the structural response and modes of failure of the columns and to assess the composite column strengths against current design codes. The study covered slender, non-slender, stub and long concrete encased steel composite columns. The concrete strengths varied from normal to high strength (20-110 MPa). The steel section yield stresses also varied from normal to high strength (275-690 MPa). Furthermore, the variables that influence the composite column behaviour and strength comprising different slenderness ratios, concrete strength and steel yield stress were investigated in a parametric study. It is shown that the increase in structural steel strength has a small effect on the composite column strength for the columns having higher relative slenderness ratios due to the flexural buckling failure mode. The composite column strengths obtained from the finite element analysis were compared with the design strengths calculated using the American Institute for Steel Construction AISC and Eurocode 4 for composite columns. Generally, it is shown that the EC 4 accurately predicted the design strength for the concrete encased steel composite columns having a concrete cylinder strength of 30 MPa and structural steel yield stresses of 275 and 460 MPa, which are in the limits of the code, which otherwise, was generally conservative. The AISC predictions were quite conservative for all the concrete encased steel composite columns.     

An experimental study on elliptical concrete filled columns under axial compression

This paper presents the experimental results and observation of elliptical concrete filled tube (CFT) columns subjected to axial compressive load. A total of twenty-six elliptical CFT specimens including both stub and slender composite columns are tested to failure to investigate the axial compressive behaviour. Various column lengths, sectional sizes and infill concrete strength are used to quantify the influence of member geometry and constituent material properties on the structural behaviour of elliptical CFT columns. As there is no design guidance currently available in any Code of Practice, this study provides a review of the current design rules for concrete filled circular hollow sections in Eurocode 4 (EC4). New equations based on the Eurocode 4 provisions for concrete filled circular hollow sections were proposed and used to predict the capacities of elliptical CFT columns.     

Field of application of high strength steel circular tubes for steel and composite columns from an economic point of view

This paper presents the results of a global comparison between high strength steel and normal steel circular tube used to build steel and composite columns submitted to static loading, as regards the economic aspects. The comparison is based on an optimum design taking into account the strength, stability and stiffness conditions of Eurocode 3 and 4. The automatic implementation of the algorithms allows achieving a high amount of case studies, covering the realistic possibilities of building columns. The investigations are realized on simple columns, columns included in braced or un-braced frames and whole frames. The field of application of high strength steel (vs normal steel), regarding the total cost of the member, is provided in a chart clearly indicating where the use of high strength steel becomes economic.     

Resistance of stainless steel CHS columns based on cross-section deformation capacity

A conceptually new structural design approach has recently been proposed by the authors to predict the resistance of stainless steel members subjected to various types of loading with cross-sections formed from thin flat plates including angles, channels, lipped channels, I-sections and rectangular hollow sections (RHS). The proposed method does not follow the traditional cross-section classification approach, which primarily relies on the assumption of a bilinear, elastic-perfectly-plastic material model. Instead, deformation capacity of a cross-section is determined directly from the local buckling characteristics of the constituent plate elements. This is then used to obtain the corresponding local buckling stress utilising an appropriate material model. This basic concept is extended herein to predict compression resistance of stainless steel columns with circular hollow sections (CHS). Available test and finite element (FE) results have been used to develop the basic design equation to predict the compression resistance of cross-sections and to propose column curves to determine flexural buckling resistances. The predicted resistances have been compared to those obtained using the current Eurocode; the predictions are significantly more accurate and more consistent than those given by the existing Eurocode.     

Influence of concrete strength and length/diameter on the axial capacity of CFT columns

This paper presents an experimental analysis of the confinement effects in steel–concrete composite columns regarding two parameters: concrete compressive strength and column slenderness. Sixteen concrete-filled steel tubular columns with circular cross section were tested under axial loading. The tested columns were filled by concrete with compressive strengths of 30, 60, 80, and 100 MPa, and had length/diameter ratios of 3, 5, 7, and 10. The experimental values of the columns’ ultimate load were compared to the predictions of 4 code provisions: the Brazilian Code NBR 8800:2008, Eurocode 4 (EN 1994-1-1:2004), AINSI/AISC 360:2005, and CAN/CSA S16-01:2001. According to the results, the load capacity of the composite columns increased with increasing concrete strength and decreased with increasing length/diameter ratio. In general, the code provisions were highly accurate in the prediction of column capacity. Among them, the Brazilian Code was the most conservative, while Eurocode 4 presented the values closest to the experimental results.     

Numerical analysis of slender elliptical concrete filled columns under axial compression

This paper presents a non-linear finite element model (FEM) used to predict the behaviour of slender concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns with elliptical hollow sections subjected to axial compression. The accuracy of the FEM was validated by comparing the numerical prediction against experimental observation of eighteen elliptical CFST columns which carefully chosen to represent typical sectional sizes and member slenderness. The adaptability to apply the current design rules provided in Eurocode 4 for circular and rectangular CFST columns to elliptical CFST columns were discussed. A parametric study is carried out with various section sizes, lengths and concrete strength in order to cover a wider range of member cross-sections and slenderness which is currently used in practices to examine the important structural behaviour and design parameters, such as column imperfection, non-dimension slenderness and buckling reduction factor, etc. It is concluded that the design rules given in Eurocode 4 for circular and rectangular CFST columns may be adopted to calculate the axial buckling load of elliptical CFST columns although using the imperfection of length/300 specified in the Eurocode 4 might be over-conservative for elliptical CFST columns with lower non-dimensional slenderness.     

Seismic performance of composite moment-resisting frames achieved with sustainable CFST members

The main objective of the research presented in this paper is to study the bending behaviour of Concrete Filled Steel Tube (CFST) columns made with Rubberized Concrete (RuC), and to assess the seismic performance of moment-resisting frames with these structural members. The paper describes an experimental campaign where a total of 36 specimens were tested, resorting to a novel testing setup, aimed at reducing both the preparation time and cost of the test specimens. Different geometrical and material parameters were considered, namely cross-section type, cross-section slenderness, aggregate replacement ratio, axial load level and lateral loading type. The members were tested under both monotonic and cyclic lateral loading, with different levels of applied axial loading. The test results show that the bending behaviour of CFST elements is highly dependent on the steel tube properties and that the type of infill does not have a significant influence on the flexural behaviour of the member. It is also found that Eurocode 4 is conservative in predicting the flexural capacity of the tested specimens. Additionally, it was found that the seismic design of composite momentresisting frames with CFST columns, according to Eurocode 8, not only leads to lighter design solutions but also to enhanced seismic performance in comparison to steel frames.     

Effect of preload on the axial capacity of concrete-filled composite columns

Concrete-filled tubes are often preferred for the construction of high-rise buildings because of their high strength and stiffness compared to conventional reinforced concrete or steel columns. However, prior to infilling of concrete, the steel tubes are subjected to preloads from upper floors arising from construction loads and permanent loads of the building. These preloads cause initial stresses and deformations in the steel tubes which would affect the load carrying capacity of the composite columns. In this paper, a design method based on a modified Eurocode 4 approach, incorporating the effect of preload, is proposed to evaluate the axial capacity of concrete filled composite columns. Eight full-scale composite column specimens were tested. Parameters studied included the strength of the concrete infill, slenderness of the columns and the amount of preload applied on the steel tubes. Results obtained from the proposed method are compared against test results and other published data. Comparison studies show that the test results are on average 3% higher than predicted results with a standard deviation of 0.089. Finite element analyses are also performed for systematic verification, and the results are 8% higher than predicted results. It is conclude that the proposed design method is accurate and mostly conservative and can be readily used in the context of Eurocode 4: Part 1.1 for designing composite columns.     

Column tests of dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel tubes

A series of tests on dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel columns (DCS) were carried out in this study. Column specimens having different lengths ranged from 1000 mm to 3500 mm were tested. The behavior and strengths of dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel columns were investigated. In addition, local bucking of inner and outer steel tubes were also investigated. Material properties of the concrete and steel used in the test specimens were measured. The test strengths are compared with the design strengths calculated using the proposed methods based on current AISC Specification and Eurocode for the design of composite structural members. The suitability of design method proposed by other researcher for circular section double skin concrete-filled steel columns for dodecagonal section specimens was also evaluated.     

中欧钢结构规范螺栓连接承载力比较

根据欧洲钢结构设计规范的EN1993-1-8∶2005和GB50017-2003《钢结构设计规范》及JGJ82-2011《钢结构高强螺栓连接技术规程》对单个螺栓的设计承载力进行比较,包括抗剪连接、抗拉连接、剪拉连接和抗滑移连接的单栓承载力。比较分析可知:国标与欧标钢结构设计规范中的抗剪螺栓连接承载力二者基本一致;欧标的高强螺栓预拉力取值比中国的约高10%;抗拉螺栓连接与剪拉螺栓连接主要区别在于螺栓的抗拉承载力如何考虑撬力的影响。     

Eccentrically loaded concrete encased steel composite columns

This paper presents a nonlinear 3-D finite element model for eccentrically loaded concrete encased steel composite columns. The columns were pin-ended subjected to an eccentric load acting along the major axis, with eccentricity varied from 0.125 to 0.375 of the overall depth (D) of the column sections. The model accounted for the inelastic behaviour of steel, concrete, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars as well as the effect of concrete confinement of the concrete encased steel composite columns. The interface between the steel section and concrete, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars, and the reinforcement bars and concrete were also considered allowing the bond behaviour to be modelled and the different components to retain its profile during the deformation of the column. The initial overall geometric imperfection was carefully incorporated in the model. The finite element model has been validated against existing test results. The concrete strengths varied from normal to high strength (30–110 MPa). The steel section yield stresses also varied from normal to high strength (275–690 MPa). Furthermore, the variables that influence the eccentrically loaded composite column behaviour and strength comprising different eccentricities, different column dimensions, different structural steel sizes, different concrete strengths, and different structural steel yield stresses were investigated in a parametric study. Generally, it is shown that the effect on the composite column strength owing to the increase in structural steel yield stress is significant for eccentrically loaded columns with small eccentricity of 0.125D. On the other hand, for columns with higher eccentricity 0.375D, the effect on the composite column strength due to the increase in structural steel yield stress is significant for columns with concrete strengths lower than 70 MPa. The strength of composite columns obtained from the finite element analysis were compared with the design strengths calculated using the Eurocode 4 for composite columns. Generally, it is shown that the EC4 accurately predicted the eccentrically loaded composite columns, while overestimated the moment.