• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.287-298
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• 2017

The present study aims to determine the structural response of full scaled rectangular columns under both of vertical and lateral loads using numerical methods. In the study, the composite columns considering full concrete filled circular steel tube (FCFRST) and concrete filled double-skin rectangular steel tube (CFDSRST) section types are numerically modelled using ANSYS software. Vertical and lateral loads are applied to models to assess the structural response of the composite elements. Also similar investigations are done for reinforced concrete rectangular (RCR) columns to compare the results with those of composite elements. The analyses of the systems are statically performed for both linear and nonlinear materials. In linear static analyses, both of vertical and lateral loads are applied to models as only one step. However in nonlinear analyses, while vertical loads are applied to model as only one step, lateral loads are applied to systems as step by step. The displacement and stress changes in some critical nodes and sections and contour diagrams are reported by graphs and figures. At the end of the study, it is demonstrated that the nonlinear models reveal more accurate result then those of linear models. Also, it is highlighted that composite columns provide more and more safety, ductility compared to reinforced concrete column.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.577-598
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• 2018

The imperfect steel-concrete interface bonding is an important deficiency of the concrete-filled double skin tubular (CFDST) columns that led to separating concrete and steel surfaces under lateral loads and triggering buckling failure of the columns. To improve this issue, it is proposed in this study to use longitudinal and transverse steel stiffeners in CFDST columns. CFDST columns with different patterns of stiffeners embedded in the interior or exterior surfaces of the inner or outer tubes were analyzed under constant axial force and reversed cyclic loading. In the finite element modeling, the confinement effects of both inner and outer tubes on the compressive strength of concrete as well as the effect of discrete crack for concrete fracture were incorporated which give a realistic prediction of the seismic behavior of CFDST columns. Lateral strength, stiffness, ductility and energy absorption are evaluated based on the hysteresis loops. The results indicated that the stiffeners had determinant role on improving pinching behavior resulting from the outer tube's local buckling and opening/closing of the major tensile crack of concrete. The lateral strength, initial stiffness and energy absorption capacity of longitudinally stiffened columns with fixed-free end condition were increased by as much as 17%, 20% and 70%, respectively. The energy dissipation was accentuated up to 107% for fixed-guided end condition. The use of transverse stiffeners at the base of columns increased energy dissipation up to 35%. Axial load ratio, hollow ratio and concrete strength affecting the initial stiffness and lateral strength, had negligible effect of the energy dissipation of the columns. It was also found that the longitudinal stiffeners and transverse stiffeners have, respectively, negative and positive effects on ductility of CFDST columns. The conclusions, drawn from this study, can in turn, lead to the suggestion of some guidelines for the design of CFDST columns.