• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.677-689
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• 2020

A building structural system of moment resisting frame (MRF) with concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns and wide flange H beams, is one of the most conveniently constructed structural systems. However, there were few studies on evaluating seismic performance of full-scale CFST columns under high axial compression. In addition, some existing famous design codes propose various limits of width-to-thickness ratio (B/t) for steel tubes of the ductile CFST composite members. This study was intended to investigate the seismic behavior of CFST columns under high axial load compression. Four full-scale square CFST column specimens with a B/t of 42 were carried out that were subjected to horizontal cyclic-reversal loads combined with constantly light, medium and high axial loads and with a linearly varied axial load, respectively. Test results revealed that shear strength and deformation capacity of the columns significantly decreased when the axial compression exceeded 0.35 times the nominal compression strength of a CFST column, P₀. It was obvious that the higher the axial compression, the lower both the shear strength and deformation capacities were, and the earlier and faster the shear strength degradation occurred. It was found as well that higher axial compressions resulted in larger initial lateral stiffness and faster degradation of post-yield lateral stiffness. Meanwhile, the lower axial compressions led to better energy dissipation capacities with larger cumulative energy. Moreover, the study implied that under axial compressions greater than 0.35P₀, the CFST column specimens with B/t limits recommended by AISC 360 (2016), ACI 318 (2014), AIJ (2008) and EC4 (2004) codes do not provide ultimate interstory drift ratio of more than 3% radian, and only the limit in ACI 318 (2014) code satisfies this requirement when axial compression does not exceed 0.35P₀.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.591-601
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• 2019

This research study investigates experimentally and analytically the axial compressive behaviour of Concrete Filled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) columns with and without Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars. The experimental program comprises five circular columns of 204-206 mm outer diameter and 800-812 mm height. All columns were tested under concentric axial compressive loads. It was found that CFFT columns with and without FRP bars achieved higher peak axial compressive loads and corresponding axial deformations than conventional steel reinforced concrete (RC) column. The contribution of FRP bars was about 12.1% of the axial compressive loads carried by CFFT columns reinforced with FRP bars. Axial load-axial deformation ($P-{\delta}$) curves of CFFT columns were analytically constructed, which mapped well with the experimental $P-{\delta}$ curves. Also, an equation was proposed to predict the axial compressive load capacity of CFFT columns with and without FRP bars, which adequately considers the contributions of the circumferential confinement provided by FRP tubes and lower ultimate strength of FRP bars in compression than in tension.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.931-951
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• 2015

To improve the durability and service life of reinforced concrete column such as bridge piers, an advanced composite column made of Ultra High Performance Cementitious Composites (UHPCC) permanent form is proposed. Based on elasticity plasticity theory, axial compression behavior of the composite column was studied theoretically. The first circumferential cracking load and ultimate limit loading capacity are derived for the composite column. Short composite column compression tests and numerical simulations using FEM method were carried out to justify the theoretical formula. The effects of UHPCC tube thickness on the axial compression behavior were studied. Using the established theoretical model and numerical simulation, the large dimension composite columns are calculated and analyzed with different UHPCC tube thickness. These studies may provide a reference for advanced composite column design and application.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.467-477
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• 2013

Municipalities in the United Arab Emirates approve reinforced concrete design of building structures to follow either the ACI 318 or the BS 8110 code. Since the requirements of these codes are different from each, there is a need to compare the structural demand in the two codes. The main objective of this study is to compare the design requirements of the ACI 318 code with the BS 8110 code for the flexural, shear and axial compression limit states. The load factors and load combinations in the two codes are also compared. To do so, a large number of cross-sections with different geometries, material properties, and reinforcement ratios are analyzed following the procedures in the two codes. The relevant factored load combinations in the two codes are also investigated for a wide range of live-to-dead load ratios and for various wind-to-dead load ratios. The study showed that the differences between the design capacities in the ACI 318 and BS 8110 codes are minor for flexure, moderate for axial compression, and major for shear. Furthermore, the factored load combinations for dead load, live load and wind in the two codes yield minor-to-moderate differences, depending on the live-to-dead load ratio and intensity of wind.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-316
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of experimental investigation, numerical calculation and theoretical analysis on axial compression ratio limit values for steel reinforced concrete (SRC) special shaped columns. 17 specimens were firstly intensively carried out to investigate the hysteretic behavior of SRC special shaped columns subjected to a constant axial load and cyclic reversed loads. Two theories were used to calculate the limits of axial compression ratio for all the specimens, including the balanced failure theory and superposition theory. It was found that the results of balanced failure theory by numerical integration method cannot conform the reality of test results, while the calculation results by employing the superposition theory can agree well with the test results. On the basis of superposition theory, the design limit values of axial compression ratio under different seismic grades were proposed for SRC special shaped columns.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2019

Using the non-local elasticity theory, Timoshenko beam model is developed to study the non- local buckling of Triple-walled carbon nanotubes (TWCNTs) embedded in an elastic medium under axial compression. The chirality and small scale effects are considered. The effects of the surrounding elastic medium based on a Winkler model and van der Waals' (vdW) forces between the inner and middle, also between the middle and outer nanotubes are taken into account. Considering the small-scale effects, the governing equilibrium equations are derived and the critical buckling loads under axial compression are obtained. The results show that the critical buckling load can be overestimated by the local beam model if the small-scale effect is overlooked for long nanotubes. In addition, significant dependence of the critical buckling loads on the chirality of zigzag carbon nanotube is confirmed. Furthermore, in order to estimate the impact of elastic medium on the non-local critical buckling load of TWCNTs under axial compression, the use of these findings are important in mechanical design considerations, improve and reinforcement of devices that use carbon nanotubes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.217-234
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• 2016

In order to investigate mechanical properties and load-bearing capacity of T-shaped Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubular (TCFST) composite columns under eccentric axial load, three T-shaped composite columns were tested under eccentric compression. Experimental results show that failure mode of the columns under eccentric compression was bending buckling of the whole specimen, and mono column performs flexural buckling. Specimens behaved good ductility and load-bearing capacity. Nonlinear finite element analysis was also employed in this investigation. The failure mode, the load-displacement curve and the ultimate bearing capacity of the finite element analysis are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Based on eccentric compression test and parametric finite element analysis, the calculation formula for the equivalent slenderness ratio was proposed and the bearing capacity of TCFST composite columns under eccentric compression was calculated. Results of theoretical calculation, parametric finite element analysis and eccentric compression experiment accord well with each other, which indicates that the theoretical calculation method of the bearing capacity is advisable.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.457-471
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• 2023

To make up for the performance weaknesses of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), expand the application range of RAC, and alleviate the environmental problems caused by excessive exploitation of natural coarse aggregates (NCA), this study proposes a basalt fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (BFRRAC)-filled square steel tubular columns that combines two modification methods of steel tube and fiber, which may greatly enhance the mechanical properties of RAC. The axial compression performance for BFRRAC-filled square steel tubular columns was reported during this study. Seven specimens with different replacement ratios of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), length-diameter ratios, along with basalt fiber (BF) contents were designed as well as fabricated for performing axial compression test. For each specimen, the whole failure process as well as mode of specimen were discovered, subsequently the load-axial displacement curve has obtained, after which the mechanical properties was explained. A finite element analysis model for specimens under axial compression was then established. Subsequently, based on this model, the factors affecting axial compression performance for BFRRAC-filled square steel tubes were extended and analyzed, after which the corresponding design suggestion was proposed. The results show that in the columns with length-diameter ratios of 5 and 8, bulging failure was presented, and the RAC was severely crushed at the bulging area of the specimen. The replacement ratio of RCA as well as BF content little affected specimen's peak load (less than 5%). As the content of BF enhanced from 0 kg/m³ to 4 kg/m³, the dissipation factor and ductility coefficients increased by 10.2% and 5.6%, respectively, with a wide range.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2018

This paper presents an experimental work for short circular steel tube columns filled with normal concrete (NAC), recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), and RAC with silica fume and steel fiber. Ten specimens were tested under axial compression to research the effect of silica fume and steel fiber volume percentage on the behavior of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube columns (RACFST). The failure modes, ultimate loads and axial load- strain relationships are presented. The test results indicate that silica fume and steel fiber would not change the failure mode of the RACFST column, but can increase the mechanical performances of the RACFST column because of the filling effect and pozzolanic action of silica fume and the confinement effect of steel fiber. The ultimate load, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of RACFST columns can exceed that of corresponding natural aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (NACFST) column. Design formulas EC4 for the load capacity NACFST and RACFST columns are proposed, and the predictions agree well with the experimental results from this study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.201-219
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• 2022

This paper firstly proposed high performance composite columns for cold-region infrastructures using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) Q960E. Then, 24 square UHPC-filled UHSS tubes (UHSTCs) at low temperatures of -80, -60, -30, and 30℃ were performed under axial loads. The key influencing parameters on axial compression performance of UHSS were studied, i.e., temperature level and UHSS-tube wall thickness (t). In addition, mechanical properties of Q960E at low temperatures were also studied. Test results revealed low temperatures improved the yield/ultimate strength of Q960E. Axial compression tests on UHSTCs revealed that the dropping environmental temperature increased the compression strength and stiffness, but compromised the ductility of UHSTCs; increasing t significantly increased the strength, stiffness, and ductility of UHSTCs. This study developed numerical and theoretical models to reproduce axial compression performances of UHSTCs at low temperatures. Validations against 24 tests proved that both two methods provided reasonable simulations on axial compression performance of UHSTCs. Finally, simplified theoretical models (STMs) and modified prediction equations in AISC 360, ACI 318, and Eurocode 4 were developed to estimate the axial load capacity of UHSTCs at low temperatures.