Tests and numerical study of ultra-high strength steel columns with end restraints

High strength steels with the nominal yield strength more than 460 MPa have begun to be applied in the construction of many steel structures, but there are short of sound researches on the major axis buckling behavior of such steel welded I-section columns, especially for the ultra-high strength steels having the nominal yield strength more than 690 MPa. In this paper, the experimental research is described on the overall buckling behavior about the major axis of ultra-high strength steel compression I-section columns with end restraints. In this research 8 columns made from 2 kinds of ultra-high strength structural steels S690 and S960, with nominal yield strengths of 690 MPa and 960 MPa, respectively, were tested. Based on the test results, the finite element analysis (FEA) model was validated to analyze this behavior of ultra-high strength steel columns, and the buckling strength of pin-ended columns fabricated from such steels were calculated by the verified FEA model, which were compared with the design buckling strengths according to the Eurocode 3, the American specification for structural steel buildings ANSI/AISC 360–05, and the Chinese codes for steel structures design GB50017-2003 respectively. It shows that the major axis nondimensional buckling strengths of the ultra-high strength steel compression columns, whose buckling curve is type b according to Eurocode 3 and GB50017-2003, are much higher than that calculated according to the column curve b, even higher than the curve a₀ in Eurocode 3 and the curve a in GB50017-2003 on average, and they are also higher than the design values according to ANSI/AISC 360–05. It is therefore indicated that the buckling strength about the major axis of the ultra-high strength steel I-section columns is improved a lot compared with the ordinary strength steel columns on a non-dimensional basis, and the column curve a₀ and curve a can be adopted to design this behavior in Eurocode 3 and GB50017-2003, respectively. Besides, there is no obvious difference between the major axis nondimensional buckling strengths of the pin-ended I-section columns fabricated from these two kinds of ultra-high strength steels: S690 and S960. These research works will provide the test basis to complete the buckling design method and theory of the ultra-high strength steel columns, and also be helpful for the application of ultra-high strength steel structures.     

960 MPa高强度钢材轴压构件整体稳定性能试验研究

为研究960 MPa高强度钢材轴压构件的整体稳定性能,对6个焊接工字形和等边箱形截面试件进行了静力试验研究,测量了试件的几何初弯曲、荷载初偏心以及截面残余应力分布等初始缺陷,分析了试件的失稳破坏形态,得到了整体稳定承载力,并与规范设计曲线进行了对比分析。利用试验结果验证了有限元分析模型,并进行参数分析。研究结果表明：试件的破坏模态均为整体弯曲失稳,除两个几何初始缺陷过大的试件外,其他试件的整体稳定系数试验值均明显高于规范设计值;参数分析结果表明,960 MPa钢材焊接截面轴压构件的整体稳定系数较普通钢材显著提高,建议采用GB 50017-2003中的a类柱子曲线设计此类轴压构件,同时拟合了960 MPa高强度钢材的柱子曲线公式。     

Overall buckling behavior of 460 MPa high strength steel columns: Experimental investigation and design method

Overall buckling behavior of compression columns is one of the most important research subjects in steel structures, especially for high strength steel which has been increasingly applied in recent years. An experimental investigation was carried out to study the overall buckling behavior of 460 MPa high strength steel compression members. Totally twelve columns including welded box and I-sections were comprised. The initial imperfections such as the residual stress, initial bending and loading eccentricity were all measured. Based on experimental results the buckling deformation and capacity were investigated. A finite element model was established and further validated by comparing with the test data in both present study and other previous researches, in which initial imperfections were taken into account. A large number of columns with various section dimensions and lengths were calculated by using the validated model, and their buckling capacities were compared with design values according to different steel structures specifications. It was found that the nondimensional buckling strength of such 460 MPa high strength steel columns were significantly improved compared to normal strength steel columns, and corresponding column curves and design formulae were suggested.     

960 MPa高强度钢材轴心受压构件局部稳定试验研究

针对960 MPa高强度钢材轴心受压构件的局部稳定性能,对4个箱形截面试件和4个工字形截面试件进行了轴心受压试验。分析了试件的局部稳定性能,并将试验结果与我国、美国和欧洲钢结构设计规范的相应设计计算结果进行了对比分析,研究各国规范对960 MPa高强度钢材轴心受压构件局部稳定性能设计计算的适用性。研究结果表明：当构件的板件宽厚比相同时,960 MPa高强度钢材构件的局部屈曲后强度要大于460 MPa高强度钢材构件,960 MPa高强度钢材构件应考虑钢材的屈曲后强度;我国现行钢结构设计规范中关于轴心受压构件局部屈曲应力的计算结果不适用于960 MPa高强度钢材构件;在试验钢材板件宽厚比范围内,960 MPa高强度钢材构件的局部屈曲承载力,采用美国规范和欧洲规范的设计计算结果较为准确。     

Compressive behavior of circular CFST columns externally reinforced using CFRp composites

Over the last several decades, various approaches to strengthening steel structures through the use of Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been investigated; however, most of the studies have been focused on the steel tubes. This paper presents the feasibility analysis on the application of CFRP composite strips to strengthen the CFST column member under axial loading. CFRP strips having a width of 50 mm were used to confine the columns. The experimental parameters were the spacing between the CFRP strips (20 and 30 mm) and number of CFRP layers (one, two and three layers). All columns were tested under axial compression until failure. The experimental results revealed that bonding of CFRP composites effectively delayed the local buckling of the columns and also reduced the axial deformation by providing a confinement/restraining effect against the elastic deformation at both spacings. The confinement effect provided by CFRP composites was increased with the increase in the number of layers; however, the enhancement in buckling stress was not proportional. The load carrying capacity of the column increased with the application of CFRP strips, by up to 30% compared to the of un-strengthened column. From the test results it is suggested that the application of CFRP strips at a spacing of 20 mm or 30 mm is suitable for strengthening of a CFST circular column member; however, the application of strips at intervals of 30 mm recommended as an economical approach to strengthening compared to the 20 mm spacing. Finally, an analytical equation was proposed to predict the load carrying capacity of the CFRP strengthened CFST column, and the average difference between the calculated and experimental value was only ±5%.     

Experimental investigation of built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns

This paper presents an experimental investigation on behaviour and design of built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns. The built-up columns were pin-ended and consisted of two cold-formed steel channels placed back-to-back at varied spacing of intersection. The two channels were connected using batten plates, with varying longitudinal spacing. The cold-formed steel channel sections were manufactured by brake-pressing flat strips having a plate thickness of 2 mm. The built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns had different slenderness and geometries but had the same nominal length of 2200 mm. The column strengths, load–axial shortening, load–lateral displacement and load–axial strain relationships were measured in the tests. In addition, the failure modes and deformed shapes at failure were observed in the tests and reported in this paper. Overall, the built-up column tests provided valuable experimental data regarding the column behaviour that compensated the lack of information on this form of construction as well as used to develop nonlinear 3-D finite element models. The column strengths measured experimentally were compared against design strengths calculated using the North American Specification, Australian/New Zealand Standard and European Code for cold-formed steel columns. Generally, it is shown that the specifications were unconservative for the built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns failing mainly by local buckling, while the specifications were conservative for the built-up columns failing mainly by elastic flexural buckling.     

Experimental investigation of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle

Experimental investigation of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle was conducted in this study. The lattice angle was designed to reinforce the concrete-filled steel tube columns by increasing the percentage of steel cross-sectional area. Column specimens having different lengths ranged from 500 mm to 3500 mm were tested. The behavior and strengths of concrete-filled steel tube columns with lattice angle were investigated. In addition, concrete-filled steel tube columns having the same size but without reinforced lattice angle were also tested for comparison. 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 AISC Specification and Eurocode for the design of composite structural members. A new design method was also proposed for the concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle. It is shown that the design predictions from the proposed method agree with test results well.     

Behaviour of eccentric loading of FRP confined fibre steel reinforced concrete columns

This paper presents results of testing 16 specimens, 12 of which as columns under different eccentricities and four as beams under four point loading regime. All 16 specimens were circular in cross section and were made of reinforced concrete. Four specimens served as reference specimens and were just made of reinforced concrete. The next four specimens were wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP). The next four specimens had steel fibres added to the concrete. The final four specimens were reinforced with steel fibres and wrapped with CFRP. From each group of specimens, one specimen was tested as a column under a concentric load, the second specimen was tested as a column under 25 mm eccentricity, the third specimen was tested as a column under 50 mm eccentricity, and the final specimen was tested as a beam under four point loading regime. The experimental programme proved that the introduction of fibres as well as wrapping the specimens with FRP improve the properties of concrete, especially its ductility.     

Experimental behaviour of cold-formed steel welded tube filled with concrete made of crushed crystallized slag subjected to eccentric load

This paper presents results of tests conducted on thin welded rectangular steel stubs filled with concrete that gravel was substituted by 10 mm crushed crystallized slag stone. The studied section was made of two cold steel plates with U shape and welded with electric arc to form a steel box section. The cross-section dimensions were: 100×70×2 mm³. the main studied parameters were the stub height (200, 300, 400, 500 mm), the effect of the in filled concrete, the continued weld and the eccentric force. The tests were carried out 28 days after the date of casting. A total of 20 stubs were tested in a 50 tf machine up to failure, 4 stubs subjected to axial load compression and 16 stubs subjected to eccentric load compression along the minor and major rigidity axis. The aim of the study is to provide some evidences that the use of crushed slag could be integrated in the manufacturing of non-conventional concrete. All failure loads were predicted by using the Euro code 4 and the design method proposed by Z. Vrcelj and B. Uy. From test results, it was confirmed that the length of stubs and the eccentric load had a drastic effect on the load carrying capacity. The failure mode of composite stubs was a local buckling mode with all steel sides deformed outwards. The Euro code 4 loads predictions were generally in good agreement compared with experimental loads and on safe side. The loads results of design method proposed by Vrcelj and B. Uy were generally on safe side compared with experimental load except the columns subject to eccentric load with 400 mm and 500 mm height.     

The development of the direct strength method for welded steel members with buckling interactions

The direct strength method (DSM) has been adopted by the NAS (2004) and AS/NZS 4600 (2005) for the design of cold-formed steel members. The method can be successfully applied to the design of welded and hot-rolled sections. This paper reviews the development of the DSM for welded steel structural members. The design strength formulae for welded section columns and beams for the DSM are provided based on the tests performed on welded H-section, C-section, circular and rectangular hollow section columns fabricated from steel plates whose nominal yield stress is 235 MPa or 315 MPa. The comparison between the design strength of welded sections predicted by the DSM and that estimated by existing specifications is provided. This paper verifies that the DSM which adopts the nominal axial strength and flexural strength in the AISC (2010) or EC3 (2004) can properly predict the ultimate strength of welded section columns and beams.     

Experimental study on CFST members strengthened by CFRP composites under compression

The concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) members become very popular in the construction industry and, at the same time, aging of structures and member deterioration are often reported. The actions like implementation of new materials and strengthening techniques become essential to combat this problem. This research work aimed to investigate the structural improvements of CFST sections with normal strength concrete externally bonded with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. For this study, compact mild steel tubes were used with the main variable being FRP characteristics. Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabrics were used as horizontal strips (lateral ties) with several other parameters such as the number of layers, width and spacing of strips. Among thirty specimens, twenty seven were externally bonded with 50 mm width of CFRP strips with a spacing of 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm and the remaining three specimens were unbonded. Experiments were undertaken until column failure to fully understand the influence of FRP characteristics on the compressive behaviour of square CFST sections including their failure modes, axial stress–strain behaviour, and load carrying capapcity. From the test results, it was found that the external bonding of CFRP strips provides external confinement pressure effectively and delays the local buckling of steel tube and also improves the load carrying capacity further. Finally, an analytical model was proposed herein for predicting the axial load carrying capacity of strengthened CFST sections under compression.     

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.     

Influence of ultra-high strength infill in slender concrete-filled steel tubular columns

This paper describes 24 tests conducted on slender circular tubular columns filled with normal, high, and ultra-high strength concrete for plain, bar reinforced and steel fiber reinforced columns. These were reinforced and subjected to both concentric and eccentric axial load. It is a continuation of a previous research paper (Portoles et al., 2011 [1]), which presented test results on eccentrically loaded plain concrete columns. The test parameters are nominal strength of concrete (30, 90 and 130 MPa), eccentricity e (0, 20 and 50 mm) and type of reinforcement. A comparison with the corresponding empty tubular columns is performed, as the aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of each type of infill and establish the best option for practical application. For the limited cases analyzed the results show that the addition of high or ultra-high strength infill is more useful for concentric loaded cases than for eccentric loaded ones, where it seems that the best design option is the utilization of bar reinforced concrete filling rather than steel fiber to reinforce CFST columns. The experimental ultimate load of each test was compared with the design loads from Eurocode 4, accurate for the eccentrically loaded tests.     

Experimental behaviour of RACFST stub columns after exposed to high temperatures

The experimental studies on the behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (RACFST) stub columns after exposed to high temperatures are reported in this paper. Forty specimens, including 32 RACFST stub columns and 8 normal concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) stub columns as reference, were tested, and the failure pattern, load versus strain relation and ultimate strength of the specimens were presented and analysed. Five types of concrete were produced: one reference concrete with natural aggregates, two concrete mixes with recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratios of 50% and 100%, and two concrete mixes with recycled fine aggregate (RFA) replacement ratios of 50% and 100%. The specimens were exposed to 300 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C for 3 h. The test results showed that, due to the existence of the recycled aggregates, the post-fire performance of RACFST stub columns was lower than the corresponding normal CFST specimens under the same maximum temperature suffered, and the RACFST specimens with RCA had a better behaviour than those with RFA under the same recycled aggregate replacement ratio.     

Q460高强钢焊接箱形截面轴压构件整体稳定性能研究

为研究高强度钢材轴心受压钢柱的整体稳定性能,对5个国产Q460钢材焊接箱形截面柱进行了轴心受压试验研究。试验对试件的几何初弯曲、荷载初偏心以及截面的纵向残余应力分布均进行了测量。基于试验结果,分析了该类钢柱的失稳破坏形态和整体稳定承载力,建立了有限元分析模型并对试验结果进行模拟计算。研究结果表明：试件破坏模态均为整体弯曲失稳形态,大部分试件稳定承载力高于规范设计值;有限元分析模型能够准确地考虑几何初始缺陷和残余应力的影响,计算结果与试验结果吻合良好;通过与国内外钢结构设计规范的对比,提出了国产Q460高强钢焊接箱形截面轴压构件整体稳定设计的建议方法,即可以统一采用我国或欧洲规范的b类曲线进行设计,而不需要按板件宽厚比大小进行分类。     

Numerical modelling of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members subjected to distortional buckling at elevated temperatures

Fire safety design of building structures has received greater attention in recent times due to continuing loss of properties and lives during fires. However, fire performance of light gauge cold-formed steel structures is not well understood despite its increased usage in buildings. Cold-formed steel compression members are susceptible to various buckling modes such as local and distortional buckling and their ultimate strength behaviour is governed by these buckling modes. Therefore a research project based on experimental and numerical studies was undertaken to investigate the distortional buckling behaviour of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members under simulated fire conditions. Lipped channel sections with and without additional lips were selected with three thicknesses of 0.6, 0.8, and 0.95 mm and both low and high strength steels (G250 and G550 steels). More than 150 compression tests were undertaken first at ambient and elevated temperatures. Finite element models of the tested compression members were then developed by including the degradation of mechanical properties with increasing temperatures. Comparison of finite element analysis and experimental results showed that the developed finite element models were capable of simulating the distortional buckling and strength behaviour at ambient and elevated temperatures up to 800 °C. The validated model was used to determine the effects of mechanical properties, geometric imperfections and residual stresses on the distortional buckling behaviour and strength of cold-formed steel columns. This paper presents the details of the numerical study and the results. It demonstrated the importance of using accurate mechanical properties at elevated temperatures in order to obtain reliable strength characteristics of cold-formed steel columns under fire conditions.     

Experimental investigation of short cruciform columns using universal beam sections

The objective of this paper is to study the axial capacity of cruciform steel columns using universal beam sections. The cruciform steel column is made up of two universal beam sections where one of the beam sections is cut into two pieces along its longitudinal axis, and connected to the other beam section by fillet welding to form the cruciform shape. BS5950-1: 2000 and Eurocode 3 codes were used to predict the theoretical axial load capacity of the column. A series of experimental tests comprised of four universal beam sections and four cruciform column sections has been carried out to validate the proposed cruciform column. Due to the limitation of the test rig to apply the vertical load, the length of the tested column was limited to short column of 1.7 m and the slenderness ratio was in the range of 26–35. The tests results were compared with the theoretical results adopted from BS 5950-1: 2000 and EC 3. The results showed that the actual capacity of the tested cruciform columns were higher than the theoretical values with the ratio in the range of 1.01–1.21 compared to BS 5950-1: 2000 and of 1.08–1.47 compared to EC 3. This study has concluded that cruciform column using universal beam section provides an alternative column sections that increase the axial capacity, stiffness of the column and reduce the total required steel weight.     

Prediction of the flexural strengths of welded H-sections with local buckling

This paper describes the flexural strength of welded sections based on a series of flexural tests performed on H-sections fabricated from steel plates of thickness 6.0 mm with nominal yield stress of 315.0 MPa. Thin-walled flexural members undergo local, lateral-torsional or their interactive buckling according to the section geometries and lateral boundary conditions. Flexural members with the flanges or the web of large width-to-thickness ratios may undergo local buckling before lateral-torsional buckling and their interaction before the final collapse of the section. The local buckling has a negative effect on the flexural strength based on the lateral-torsional buckling. This phenomenon should be considered in the estimation of the nominal flexural strength of thin-walled flexural members. Welded H-section beams composed of the flanges and the web with various width-to-thickness ratios were tested to failure. The initial imperfections in local and lateral buckling mode, and residual stresses were included in the FE analyses. Simple design flexural strength formulas for the direct strength method (DSM) were proposed based on the test and FE results of welded sections to account for interaction between local and lateral-torsional buckling. The design strength curves were compared with the AISC specifications (2005), Eurocode3 (2003) and test results. The adequacy of the strength curve for the DSM was confirmed. A set of conclusions on the flexural strength and structural behavior of thin-walled welded H-sections was drawn from the experimental studies.     

Bond behaviour of reinforcement in self-compacting concretes

This experimental work examines the bond strength between reinforcement steel and concrete, and the top-bar effect in self-compacting concretes. Eight different concretes were used, four self-compacting (SCC) and four normally-vibrated (NVC). Tests were conducted on 200 mm cube specimens and 1500 mm high columns. It was found that, at moderate load levels, SCC performed with more stiffness, which resulted in greater mean bond stresses. The ultimate bond stresses are also somewhat greater although, due probably to the negative effects of the bleeding having less impact on failure, the differences between SCC and NVC are reduced considerably, and even disappear completely for concretes of more than 50 MPa. On the other hand, the top-bar effect is much less marked in SCC, and therefore a change in the factor that takes into account this effect in the formulas used for calculating the anchorage length of the reinforcement is proposed for these concretes.     

Experimental investigation of concrete-filled cold-formed high strength stainless steel tube columns

This paper presents an experimental investigation of concrete-filled cold-formed high strength stainless steel tube columns. The high strength stainless steel tubes had a yield stress and tensile strength up to 536 and 961 MPa, respectively. The behaviour of the columns was investigated using different concrete cylinder strengths varied from 40 to 80 MPa. A series of tests was performed to investigate the effects of the shape of the stainless steel tube, plate thickness and concrete strength on the behaviour and strength of concrete-filled high strength stainless steel tube columns. The high strength stainless steel tubes were cold-rolled into square and rectangular hollow sections. The depth-to-plate thickness ratio of the tube sections varied from 25.7 for compact sections to 55.8 for relatively slender sections. The columns had different lengths so the length-to-depth ratio generally remained at a constant value of 3. The concrete-filled high strength stainless steel tube specimens were subjected to uniform axial compression. The column strengths, load-axial strain relationships and failure modes of the columns were presented. The test strengths were compared with the design strengths calculated using the American specifications and Australian/New Zealand standards that consider the effect of local buckling using an effective width concept in the calculation of the stainless steel tube column strengths. Based on the test results, design recommendations were proposed for concrete-filled high strength stainless steel tube columns.