• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2024

Under constant and cyclic axial compression, square composite short columns reinforced with Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) added with scrap rubber infilled inside steel tubes and with different types of concrete were cast and tested. The test is carried out to find the effectiveness of utilizing an aggregate manufactured from industrial waste and to address the problems associated with the need for alternative reinforcements along with waste management. The main testing parameters are the type of concrete, the effect of fiber inclusion, and the significance of rubber-infilled steel tubes. The failure modes of the columns and axial load-displacement curves of the steel tube-reinforced columns were all thoroughly investigated. According to the test results, all specimens failed due to compression failure with a longitudinal crack along the loading axis. The fiber-reinforced column specimens demonstrated improved ductility and energy absorption. In comparison to the normal-weight concrete columns, the lightweight concrete columns significantly improved the axial load-carrying capacity. The addition of basalt fiber to the columns significantly increased the yield stress and ultimate stress to 9.21%. The corresponding displacement at yield load and ultimate load was reduced to 10.36% and 28.79%, respectively. The precision of volumetric information regarding the obtained crack quantification, aggregates, and the fiber in concrete is studied in detail through image processing using MATLAB environment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.91 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2024

In recent decades, the majority of studies have concentrated on the utilization of Steel Square Hollow Section (SHS) columns, with minimal attention given to reinforcing columns exhibiting inherent defects. This study addresses this gap by introducing initial vertical and horizontal defects at three distinct locations (top, middle, and bottom) and employing Carbon-FRP for reinforcement. The research investigates the dimensional and positional impacts of these defects on the axial behavior of SHS columns. A total of 29 samples, comprising 17 with defects, 11 strengthened, and 1 defect-free control, underwent examination. The study employed ABAQUS modeling and conducted experimental testing. Results revealed that defects located at different positions significantly diminished the load-bearing capacity and initial performance of the steel columns. Axial loading induced local buckling and lateral rupture, particularly at the defect side, in short columns. Notably, horizontal (across the column's width) and vertical (along the column's height) defects in the middle led to the most substantial reduction in strength and load-bearing capacity. The axial compressive failure increased with the length-to-width ratio of the defect. Moreover, the application of four carbon fiber layers to strengthen the steel columns resulted in increased Energy Dissipation and a delayed onset of local buckling in the face of axial ruptures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2018

This paper presents a combined numerical, experimental, and theoretical study on the behavior of the concrete-filled double circular steel tubular (CFDT) stub columns under axial compressive loading. Four groups of stub column specimens were tested in this study to find out the effects of the concrete strength, steel ratio and diameter ratio on the mechanical behavior of CFDT stub columns. Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were also established to study the stresses of different components in the CFDT stub columns. The change of axial and transverse stresses in the internal and external steel tubes, as well as the change of axial stress in the concrete sandwich and concrete core, respectively, was thoroughly investigated for different CFDT stub columns with the same steel ratio. The influence of inner-to-outer diameter ratio and steel ratio on the ultimate bearing capacity of CFDT stub columns was identified, and a reasonable section configuration with proper inner-to-outer diameter ratio and steel ratio was proposed. Furthermore, a practical formula for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity was proposed based on the ultimate equilibrium principle. The predicted results showed satisfactory agreement with both experimental and numerical results, indicating that the proposed formula is applicable for design purposes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.615-631
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• 2023

To investigate the seismic behavior of steel slag self-stressing concrete-filled circular steel tubular (SSSCFCST) columns, 14 specimens were designed, namely, 10 SSSCFCST columns and four ordinary steel slag (SS) concrete (SSC)-filled circular steel tubular (SSCFCST) columns. Comparative tests were conducted under low reversed cyclic loading considering various parameters, such as the axial compression ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, shear-span ratio, and expansion ratio of SSC. The failure process of the specimens was observed, and hysteretic and skeleton curves were obtained. Next, the influence of these parameters on the hysteretic behavior of the SSSCFCST columns was analyzed. The self stress of SS considerably increased the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens. Results indicated that specimens with a shear-span ratio of 1.83 exhibited compression bending failure, whereas those with shear-span ratios of 0.91 or 1.37 exhibited drum-shaped cracking failure. However, shear-bond failure occurred in the nonloading direction. The stiffness of the falling section of the specimens decreased with increasing shear-span ratio. The hysteretic curves exhibited a weak pinch phenomenon, and their shapes evolved from a full shuttle shape to a bow shape during loading. The skeleton curves of the specimens were nearly complete, progressing through elastic, elastoplastic, and plastic stages. Based on the experimental study and considering the effects of the SSC expansion rate, shear-span ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, and axial compression ratio on the seismic behavior, a peak displacement coefficient of 0.91 was introduced through regression analysis. A simplified method for calculating load-displacement skeleton curves was proposed and loading and unloading rules for SSSCFCST columns were provided. The load-displacement restorative force model of the specimens was established. These findings can serve as a guide for further research and practical application of SSSCFCST columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.481-492
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• 2020

Twenty-two corrosion-damaged columns were simulated through accelerated steel corrosion tests. Eight specimens were directly tested to failure under axial load, and the remaining specimens were tested after concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) strengthening. This study aimed to investigate the damage of RC columns after corrosion and their restoration and enhancement after strengthening. The research parameters included different corrosion degrees of RC columns, diameter-to-thickness ratio of steel tube and the strengthening concrete strength. Experimental results showed that CFST strengthening method could change the failure mode of corrosion-damaged RC columns from brittleness to ductility. In addition to the bearing capacity provided by the strengthening materials, it can also provide an extra 26.7% amplification because of the effective confinement provided by steel tubes. The influence of corrosion on reinforcement and concrete was quantitatively analysed and considered in the design formula. The proposed formula accurately predicted the bearing capacity of the strengthened columns with a maximum error of only 7.68%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.533-549
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• 2020

Recently, Concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) columns have proven an exceptional structural resistance in terms of strength, stiffness, and ductility. However, the resistance of these column members can be severely affected by the type of loading in which bending stresses increase in direct proportion with axial load and eccentricity value. This paper presents a non-linear finite element based modeling approach that studies the behavior of slender CFDST columns under biaxial loading. Finite element models were calibrated based on the outcomes of experimental work done by other researchers. Results from simulations of slender CFDST columns under axial loading eccentric in one direction showed good agreement with the experimental response. The calibrated models are expanded to a total of thirty models that studies the behavior of slender CFDST columns under combined compression and biaxial bending. The influences of parameters that are usually found in practice are taken into consideration in this paper, namely, eccentricity-to-diameter (e/D) ratios, slenderness ratios, diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratios, and steel contribution ratios. Finally, an analytical study based on current code provisions is conducted. It is concluded that South African national standards (2011) provided the most accurate results contrasted with the Eurocode 4 (2004) and American Institute of Steel Construction (2016) that are found to be conservative. Accordingly, correction factors are proposed to the current design guidelines to provide more satisfactory results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.521-536
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• 2019

The mechanical response of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns subjected to pure compression or uniaxial bending was studied in depth over the last decades. However, the available research results on CFST columns under biaxial bending are still scarce and the lack of experimental tests for this loading situation is evident. At the same time, the design provisions in Eurocode 4 Part 1.1 for verifying the stability of CFST columns under biaxial bending make use of a simplistic interaction curve, which needs to be revised. This paper presents the outcome of a numerical investigation on slender CFST columns subjected to biaxial bending. Eccentricities differing in minor and major axis, as well as varying end moment ratios are considered in the numerical model. A parametric study is conducted for assessing the current design guidelines of EN1994-1-1. Different aspect ratios, member slenderness, reinforcement ratios and load eccentricities are studied, covering both constant and variable bending moment distribution. The numerical results are subsequently compared to the design provisions of EN1994-1- 1, showing that the current interaction equation results overly conservative. An alternative interaction equation is developed by the authors, leading to a more accurate yet conservative proposal.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.171-183
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• 2019

As China's infrastructure continues to grow, concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) structures are attracting increasing interest for use in engineering applications in earthquake prone regions owing to their high section modulus, high strength, and good seismic performance. However, in a corrosive environment, the seismic resistance of the CFST columns may be affected to a certain extent. This study attempts to investigate the mechanical behaviours of square CFST members under both a cyclic load and an acid rain attack. First, the tensile mechanical properties of steel plates with various corrosion rates were tested. Second, a total of 12 columns with different corrosion rates were subjected to a reversed cyclic load and tested. Third, comparisons between the test results and the predicted ultimate strength by using four existing codes were carried out. It was found that the corrosion leads to an evident decrease in yield strength, elastic modulus, and tensile strain capacity of steel plates, and also to a noticeable deterioration in the ultimate strength, ductility, and energy dissipation of the CFST members. A larger axial force ratio leads to a more significant resulting deterioration of the seismic behaviour of the columns. In addition, the losses of both thickness and yield strength of an outer steel tube caused by corrosion should be taken into account when predicting the ultimate strength of corroded CFST columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2013

The thermal creep is one of the major factors causing the buckle of steel columns in the fire events. But, few related studies have been reported to evaluate the factors affecting the thermal creep of steel column experimentally or numerically. In this study a series of Fire-resistant steel columns with three different slenderness ratios under a sustained load are tested under a uniform temperature up to six hours in order to evaluate the creep upon three selected factors, temperature, applied load, and column slenderness. Based on experimental results, a proposed creep strain rate model is established as the function of a single parameter of the load ratio of temperature LR(T) to determine the buckling time of steel column due to creep. Furthermore it is found that the creep can be neglected when LR(T) is smaller than 0.77.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.469-488
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• 2011

This paper consists of two parts; the first part describes the laboratory work concerning the behavior of lightweight aggregate concrete filled steel tubes (LACFT). Based on eccentricity tests, fifty-four specimens with different slenderness ratios (L/D= 3, 7, and 14) were tested. The main parameters varied in the test are: load eccentricity; steel ratio; and slenderness ratio. The standard load-strain curves of LACFT columns under eccentric loading were summarized and significant parameters affecting LACFT column's bearing capacity, failure mechanism and failure mode such as confinement effect and bond strength were all studied and analyzed through the comparison with predicted strength of concrete filled steel tube columns (CFT) using the existing codes such as AISC-LRFD (1999), CHN DBJ 13-51-2003 (2003) and CHN CECS 28:90 (1990). The second part of this paper presents the results of parametric study and introduces a practical and accurate method for determination of the maximum compressive strength of confined concrete core ($f_{max}$), In addition to, the study of the effect of aspect-ratio and length-width ratio on the yield stress of steel tubes ( $f_{sy}$) under biaxial state of stress in CFT columns and the effect of these two factors on the ultimate load carrying capacity of axially loaded CFT/LACFT columns.