High strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular slender beam-columns, Part II: Fundamental behavior

There is relatively little experimental and numerical research on the fundamental behavior of high strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) slender beam-columns. In a companion paper, a new numerical model for predicting the nonlinear inelastic behavior of high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns under axial load and bending was presented. The numerical model developed accounts for confinement effects on the strength and ductility of the concrete core and on circular steel tubes as well as initial geometric imperfections of beam-columns. This paper presents the verification of the numerical model and extensive parametric studies on the fundamental behavior of high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns. The ultimate strengths and axial load-deflection responses of circular CFST slender beam-columns under eccentric loading predicted by the numerical model are verified by corresponding experimental results. The computer program implementing the numerical model is used to investigate the fundamental behavior of high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns in terms of load-deflection responses, ultimate strengths, axial load-moment interaction diagrams, and strength increase due to concrete confinement. Parameters examined include column slenderness ratio, eccentricity ratio, concrete compressive strengths, steel yield strengths, steel ratio and concrete confinement. It is demonstrated that the numerical model developed is an efficient computer simulation and design tool for high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns. Benchmark numerical results presented in this paper are valuable in the development of composite design codes for high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns.     

High strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular slender beam-columns, Part I: Numerical analysis

High strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) slender beam-columns are frequently used in high-rise composite buildings because they possess higher strength and stiffness than normal strength ones. Most nonlinear inelastic methods of analysis for circular CFST slender beam-columns have not considered the effects of high strength materials and concrete confinement that significantly increases the strength and ductility of the concrete core. As a result, these methods produce computational solutions that deviate considerably from experimental results. This paper presents a new numerical model for predicting the nonlinear inelastic behavior of high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns under axial load and bending. The numerical model developed not only accounts for confinement effects on the concrete core and circular steel tubes but also incorporates initial geometric imperfections of beam-columns. Axial load-moment-curvature relationships obtained from the fiber element analysis of column cross-sections are utilized to determine the equilibrium states in the inelastic stability analysis of slender beam-columns. Computational algorithms are developed for determining the axial load-deflection and axial load-moment interaction curves for slender beam-columns. The numerical model is implemented in a computer program, which is shown to be an efficient and accurate simulation tool that can be used to investigate the fundamental behavior of high strength circular CFST slender beam-columns. The verification and applications of the numerical model are given in a companion paper.     

Performance-based analysis of concrete-filled steel tubular beam-columns, Part I: Theory and algorithms

This paper presents a performance-based analysis (PBA) technique based on fiber element formulations for the nonlinear analysis and performance-based design of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) beam-columns with local buckling effects. Geometric imperfections, residual stresses and strain hardening of steel tubes and confined concrete models are considered in the PBA technique. Initial local buckling and effective strength/width formulas are incorporated in the PBA program to account for local buckling effects. The progressive local buckling of a thin-walled steel tube filled with concrete is simulated by gradually redistributing normal stresses within the steel tube walls. Performance indices are proposed to quantify the section, axial ductility and curvature ductility performance of thin-walled CFST beam-columns under axial load and biaxial bending. Efficient secant algorithms are developed to iterate the depth and orientation of the neutral axis in a thin-walled CFST beam-column section to satisfy equilibrium conditions. The analysis algorithms for thin-walled CFST beam-columns under axial load and uni- and biaxial bending are presented. The PBA program can efficiently generate axial load-strain curves, moment-curvature curves and axial load-moment strength interaction diagrams for thin-walled CFST beam-columns under biaxial loads. The proposed PBA technique allows the designer to analyze and design thin-walled CFST beam-columns made of compact or non-compact steel tubes with any strength grades and normal and high-strength concrete. The verification and applications of the PBA program are given in a companion paper.     

Strength and ductility of high strength concrete-filled steel tubular beam-columns

The ultimate strength and ductility of high strength thin-walled concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) beam-columns with local buckling effects, are investigated in this paper, using a performance-based analysis (PBA) technique. The PBA technique accounts for the effects of geometric imperfections, residual stresses, strain hardening, local buckling and concrete confinement on the behavior of high strength thin-walled CFST beam-columns. The accuracy of the PBA technique is further examined by comparisons with experimental results. The PBA program is employed to study the effects of depth-to-thickness ratio, concrete compressive strengths, steel yield strengths and axial load levels on the stiffness, strength and ductility of high strength thin-walled CFST beam-columns under combined axial load and biaxial bending. The results obtained indicate that increasing the depth-to-thickness ratio and axial load levels significantly reduces the stiffness, strength and ductility of CFST beam-columns. Increasing concrete compressive strengths increases the stiffness and strength, but reduces the axial ductility and section performance of CFST beam-columns. Moreover, the steel yield strength has a significant effect on the section and strength performance of CFST beam-columns but does not have a significant effect on their axial and curvature ductility.     

Nonlinear analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tubular short columns under eccentric loading

This paper presents an effective theoretical model for the nonlinear inelastic analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) short columns under eccentric loading. Accurate material constitutive relationships for normal and high strength concrete confined by either normal or high strength circular steel tubes are incorporated in the theoretical model to account for confinement effects that increase both the strength and ductility of concrete. The predicted ultimate bending strengths and complete moment-curvature responses of circular CFST columns under eccentric loading are compared with existing experimental results to examine the accuracy of the theoretical model developed. The fundamental behavior of circular CFST beam-columns with various diameter-to-thickness ratios, concrete compressive strengths, steel yield strengths, axial load levels and sectional shapes is studied using the verified theoretical model. Based on extensive numerical studies, a new design model for determining the ultimate pure bending strengths of circular CFST beam-columns is proposed. The theoretical model and formulas developed are shown to be effective simulation and design tools for the nonlinear inelastic behavior of circular CFST beam-columns under eccentric loading.     

Analysis of circular concrete-filled double skin tubular slender columns with external stainless steel tubes

This paper investigates the strength and behaviour of concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) slender columns under axial compression. The lean duplex stainless steel material (EN 1.4162) which has recently gained significant attention is considered herein as the external jacket of such columns. Finite element (FE) analyses of several CFDST columns are conducted. Careful consideration is taken in the modelling for the concrete behaviour, for which both of the compressive and the tensile behaviours and the non-linear behaviour due to cracking are fully considered. The accuracy of the current FE models is ensured through the comparison with the existing columns in literature. A parametric study is then conducted to investigate the behaviour of such columns under different affecting factors; the slenderness ratio, the concrete confinement effect, the hollow ratio, the concrete compressive strength and the thickness ratio. The behavioural differences between intermediate length and very long CFDST columns are carefully addressed. Analytically obtained ultimate strengths are compared with design strengths calculated by European and American specifications. European design strength is found to give better predictions compared to the American specifications. However, it is shown that both strengths cannot be used in design because they overestimate the ultimate strengths and thereby do not satisfy the safety requirements. Therefore, a modification is suggested to the European design model which is shown to be able to estimate the compressive resistance of the CFDST columns more accurately than other methods.     

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.     

高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件(2):基本性能

目前,有关高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件基本性能的试验及数值研究相对较少。在之前文章中,已经提出评估此类压弯构件非线性性能的数值模型,考虑约束和初始几何缺陷对核心混凝土强度和韧性及钢管的影响。验证该模型的正确性,并进行压弯构件基本性能的参数化研究。通过相应的试验结果,验证根据此模型求得的偏心荷载作用下极限承载力和轴力-变形性能的正确性。在计算机程序中应用该模型,研究高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件的基本性能,如:荷载-位移曲线,极限承载力,轴力-弯矩曲线及由混凝土约束引起的强度增量。参数包括:构件长细比,偏心率,混凝土抗压强度,钢材屈服强度,钢材百分比,混凝土约束条件等。结果表明:提出的数值模型能有效模拟和设计高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件。本基准数值结果对完善组合结构设计规范中有关高强混凝土压弯构件的规定很有意义。     

Nonlinear analysis of short concrete-filled steel tubular beam-columns under axial load and biaxial bending

This paper presents a nonlinear fiber element analysis method for determining the axial load-moment strength interaction diagrams for short concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) beam-columns under axial load and biaxial bending. Nonlinear constitutive models for confined concrete and structural steel are considered in the fiber element analysis. Efficient secant algorithms are developed to iterate the depth and orientation of the neutral axis in a composite section to satisfy equilibrium conditions. The accuracy of the fiber element analysis program is verified by comparisons of fiber analysis results with experimental data and existing solutions. The fiber element analysis program developed is employed to study the effects of steel ratios, concrete compressive strengths and steel yield strengths on axial load-moment interaction diagrams and the C-ratio of CFST beam-columns. The proposed fiber element analysis technique is shown to be efficient and accurate and can be used directly in the design of CFST beam-columns and implemented in advanced analysis programs for the nonlinear analysis of composite columns and frames.     

Behaviour of concrete-filled double skin rectangular steel tubular beam-columns

Double skin composite columns are formed from two steel skins filled with concrete in between. This new form of hybrid column has the potential to be used in many domains such as high-rise bridge piers and large diameter columns in high-rise buildings, etc. This paper describes a series of tests carried out on concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns, beams and beam-columns. Both outer and inner tubes are cold-formed rectangular hollow sections (RHS). The failure modes, and load-deformation behaviour of CFDST specimens are compared with those of conventional concrete-filled steel tubular members and empty double skin tubular members. A theoretical model is developed in this paper for the CFDST stub columns, beams and beam-columns. Reasonably good agreement is observed between the predicted and tested curves. Simplified models are derived to predict the load-carrying capacities of the composite members.     

高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件(1):数值分析

由于具有比普通构件强度高、刚度大等特点,高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件被广泛用于高层建筑中。然而,针对此类构件的大多数非线性分析方法都没有考虑高强材料属性和混凝土约束的影响,这很大程度上高估了核心混凝土的强度和韧性。因此,这些方法的求解结果与试验结果相差很大。针对高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件的非线性性能,提出新的数值模型。该模型不仅考虑了混凝土约束对核心混凝土和钢管的影响,还考虑了压弯构件的初始几何缺陷。根据通过有限元分析求得的轴力-弯矩曲线,确定压弯构件非线性稳定分析中的平衡状态。为确定轴力-变形及轴力-弯矩曲线,提出了计算准则。在计算机程序中应用该数值模型,可研究高强圆钢管混凝土压弯构件的基本性能。在后续文章中,将验证该模型的正确性,并应用此模型。     

Local buckling of steel plates in concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular beam-columns

The availability of high strength steels and concrete leads to the use of thin steel plates in concrete-filled steel tubular beam-columns. However, the use of thin steel plates in composite beam-columns gives a rise to local buckling that would appreciably reduce the strength and ductility performance of the members. This paper studies the critical local and post-local buckling behavior of steel plates in concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular beam-columns by using the finite element analysis method. Geometric and material nonlinear analyses are performed to investigate the critical local and post-local buckling strengths of steel plates under compression and in-plane bending. Initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses presented in steel plates, material yielding and strain hardening are taken into account in the nonlinear analysis. Based on the results obtained from the nonlinear finite element analyses, a set of design formulas are proposed for determining the critical local buckling and ultimate strengths of steel plates in concrete-filled steel tubular beam-columns. In addition, effective width formulas are developed for the ultimate strength design of clamped steel plates under non-uniform compression. The accuracy of the proposed design formulas is established by comparisons with available solutions. The proposed design formulas can be used directly in the design of composite beam-columns and adopted in the advanced analysis of concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular beam-columns to account for local buckling effects.     

High strength thin-walled rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular slender beam-columns,Part II: Behavior

Experimental and numerical research on full-scale high strength thin-walled rectangular steel slender tubes filled with high strength concrete has not been reported in the literature. In a companion paper, a new numerical model was presented that simulates the nonlinear inelastic behavior of uniaxially loaded high strength thin-walled rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) slender beam-columns with local buckling effects. The progressive local and post-local buckling of thin steel tube walls under stress gradients was incorporated in the numerical model. This paper presents the verification of the numerical model developed and its applications to the investigation into the fundamental behavior of high strength thin-walled CFST slender beam-columns. Experimental ultimate strengths and load-deflection responses of CFST slender beam-columns tested by independent researchers are used to verify the accuracy of the numerical model. The verified numerical model is then utilized to investigate the effects of local buckling, column slenderness ratio, depth-to-thickness ratio, loading eccentricity ratio, concrete compressive strengths and steel yield strengths on the behavior of high strength thin-walled CFST slender beam-columns. It is demonstrated that the numerical model is accurate and efficient for determining the behavior of high strength thin-walled CFST slender beam-columns with local buckling effects. Numerical results presented in this study are useful for the development of composite design codes for high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns.     

Nonlinear analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tubular short columns under axial loading

The confinement effect provided by the steel tube in a circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) short column remarkably increases the strength and ductility of the concrete core. The reliable prediction using nonlinear analysis methods for circular CFST columns relies on the use of accurate models for confined concrete. In this paper, accurate constitutive models for normal and high strength concrete confined by either normal or high strength circular steel tubes are proposed. A generic fiber element model that incorporates the proposed constitutive models of confined concrete is created for simulating the nonlinear inelastic behavior of circular CFST short columns under axial loading. The generic fiber element model developed is verified by comparisons of computational results with existing experimental data. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to examine the accuracy of various confining pressure models and the effects of the tube diameter-to-thickness ratio, concrete compressive strengths and steel yield strengths on the fundamental behavior of circular CFST columns. A new design formula accounting for concrete confinement effects is also proposed for circular CFST columns. It is demonstrated that the generic fiber element model and design formula adequately predict the ultimate strength and behavior of axially loaded circular CFST columns and can be used in the design of normal and high strength circular CFST 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.     

Advanced design for trusses of steel and concrete-filled tubular sections

This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation of buckling behavior of bare steel and concrete-filled steel (CFS) tubes used as columns and as members of trusses. The member resistances of the columns and trusses consisting of steel and CFS tubular members are compared to demonstrate the beneficial effects of the in-filled concrete, with their resistances predicted using the conventional effective length and second-order analysis methods of design in various international standards such as Eurocode 3 (EC3), Eurocode 4 (EC4), CoPHK, AISC-LRFD and AS5100. Test results are further used to validate the proposed second-order analysis, which skips the assumption of effective length, for accurate and reliable design of composite members. The present holistic approach of considering composite members as constituting elements in a truss represents a piece of original work on testing and design of structures as a system, rather than designing members in isolation in the traditional member-based design.     

Effect of reinforcement stiffeners on square concrete-filled steel tubular columns subjected to axial compressive load

Eight stiffened square concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) stub columns with slender sections of encasing steel and two non-stiffened counterparts were tested subjected to axial compressive load. Four types of reinforcement stiffeners and steel tensile strips were introduced to postpone local buckling of steel tubes, in which the tensile strip was first used as stiffener in CFSTs. The stiffening mechanism, failure modes of concrete and steel tubes, strength and ductility of stiffened square CFSTs were also studied during the experimental research. A numerical modeling program was developed and verified against the experimental data. The program incorporates the effect of the stiffeners on postponing local buckling of the tube and the tube confinement on concrete core. Extensive parametric analysis was also conducted to examine the influencing parameters on mechanical properties of stiffened square CFSTs.     

Seismic performance and collapse prevention of concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular arches

The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the seismic behaviour of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arches using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). A nonlinear elastic–plastic finite element model is developed using OpenSees software and is verified with a shaking table test. Single-record IDA studies indicate that a CFST arch undergoes global dynamic instability when subjected to ground motions of increasing intensity levels. During this process, either dynamic elastic buckling or dynamic elastic–plastic buckling may occur. Dynamic strength, which is defined as the capacity for preventing global dynamic instabilities of CFST arches, is determined with a series of multi-record IDA calculations. A lower bound equation that takes into account the effect of slenderness ratio, axial compression ratio, and included angle is proposed for the prediction of the dynamic strength of CFST arches.     

High strength thin-walled rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular slender beam-columns,Part I: Modeling

High strength thin-walled rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) slender beam-columns under eccentric loading may undergo local and overall buckling. The modeling of the interaction between local and overall buckling is highly complicated. There is relatively little numerical study on the interaction buckling of high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns. This paper presents a new numerical model for simulating the nonlinear inelastic behavior of uniaxially loaded high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns with local buckling effects. The cross-section strengths of CFST beam-columns are modeled using the fiber element method. The progressive local and post-local buckling of thin steel tube walls under stress gradients is simulated by gradually redistributing normal stresses within the steel tube walls. New efficient Müller's method algorithms are developed to iterate the neutral axis depth in the cross-sectional analysis and to adjust the curvature at the columns ends in the axial load–moment interaction strength analysis of a slender beam-column to satisfy equilibrium conditions. Analysis procedures for determining the load–deflection and axial load–moment interaction curves for high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns incorporating progressive local bucking and initial geometric imperfections are presented. The new numerical model developed is shown to be efficient for predicting axial load–deflection and axial load–moment interaction curves for high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns. The verification of the numerical model and parametric studies is given in a companion paper.     

In-plane strength of concrete-filled steel tubular circular arches

More than 400 concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridges have been constructed worldwide so far. However, design codes or guidance for the in-plane strength design of CFST arches are yet to be developed. In current design practice, the philosophy for the in-plane strength design of reinforced and prestressed concrete arches is widely adopted for CFST arches. For this, the CFST arches are considered under central or eccentric axial compression and are treated similarly to CFST columns, and the classical buckling load of CFST columns is used as the reference elastic buckling load of CFST arches. However, under transverse loading, the in-plane elastic buckling behaviour of CFST arches, particularly shallow CFST arches, is very different from that of CFST columns under axial compression. In addition, different from CFST columns under central or eccentric axial compression, CFST arches are subjected to significant nonlinear bending actions and transverse deformations prior to buckling and these will influence the strength of CFST arches greatly. Therefore, it is doubtful if the current method for in-plane strength design of CFST arches can provide correct strength predictions. In this paper, a method for the in-plane strength design of CFST circular arches, which is consistent with the current major design codes for steel structures, is developed by considering both geometric and material nonlinearities. A design equation for the in-plane strength capacity of CFST arches under uniform compression, and a lower-bound design equation for the in-plane strength check of CFST arches under combined actions of bending and compression are proposed.