• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.663-675
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• 2016

The effects of slenderness ratio, eccentricity and column slope on the load-carrying capacities and failure modes of variable and uniform concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) latticed columns under axial and eccentric compression were investigated and compared in this study. The results clearly show that all the CFST latticed columns with variable cross section exhibit an overall failure, which is similar to that of CFST latticed columns with a uniform cross section. The load-carrying capacity decreases with the increase of the slenderness ratio or the eccentricity. For 2-m specimens with a slenderness ratio of 9, the ultimate load-carrying capacity is increased by 3% and 5% for variable CFST latticed columns with a slope of 1:40 and 1:20 as compared with that of uniform CFST latticed columns, respectively. For the eccentrically compressed variable CFST latticed columns, the strain of the columns at the loading side, as well as the difference in the strain, increases from the bottom to the cap, and a more significant increase in strain is observed in the cross section closer to the column cap.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-167
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• 2004

Offshore platforms have to serve in harsh environments and hence are likely to be damaged due to wave induced fatigue and environmental corrosion. Welded tubular joints in offshore platforms are most vulnerable to fatigue damage. Such damages endanger the integrity of the structure. Therefore it is all the more essential to assess the capacity of damaged structure from the point of view of its safety. Eight internally ring stiffened fatigue damaged tubular joints with nominal chord and brace diameter of 324 mm and 219 mm respectively and thickness 12 mm and 8 mm respectively were tested under axial brace compression loading to evaluate the reserve capacity of the joints. These joints had earlier been tested under fatigue loading under corrosive environments of synthetic sea water and hence they have been cracked. The extent of the damage varied from 35 to 50 per cent. One stiffened joint was also tested under axial brace tension loading. The residual strength of fatigue damaged stiffened joint tested under tension loading was observed to be less than one fourth of that tested under compression loading. It was observed in this experimental investigation that in the damaged condition, the joints possessed an in-built load-transfer mechanism. A bi-linear stress-strain model was developed in this investigation to predict the reserve capacity of the joint. This model considered the strain hardening effect. Close agreement was observed between the experimental and predicted results. The paper presents in detail the experimental investigation and the development of the analytical model to predict the reserve capacity of internally ring stiffened joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.739-756
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• 2015

This paper presents investigations on the hysteretic behavior of concrete-filled circular tubular (CFCT) T-joints subjected to axial cyclic loading at brace end. In the experimental study, four specimens are fabricated and tested. The chord members of the tested specimens are filled with concrete along their full length and the braces are hollow section. Failure modes and load-displacement hysteretic curves of all the specimens obtained from experimental tests are given and discussed. Some indicators, in terms of stiffness deterioration, strength deterioration, ductility and energy dissipation, are analyzed to assess the seismic performance of CFCT joints. Test results indicate that the failures are primarily caused by crack cutting through the chord wall, convex deformation on the chord surface near brace/chord intersection and crushing of the core concrete. Hysteretic curves of all the specimens are plump, and no obvious pinching phenomenon is found. The energy dissipation result shows that the inelastic deformation is the main energy dissipation mechanism. It is also found from experimental results that the CFCT joints show clear and steady stiffness deterioration with the increase of displacement after yielding. However, all the specimens do not perform significant strength deterioration before failure. The effect of joint geometric parameters ${\beta}$ and ${\gamma}$ of the four specimens on hysteretic performance is also discussed.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular column is composed of concrete, steel, and CFRP. Its failure mechanics are complex. The most important difficulties are lack of an available method to establish a relationship between a specific damage mechanism and its acoustic emission (AE) characteristic parameter. In this study, AE technique was used to monitor the evolution of damage in CFRP-confined circular concrete-filled steel tubular columns. A fuzzy c-means method was developed to determine the relationship between the AE signal and failure mechanisms. Cluster analysis results indicate that the main AE sources include five types: matrix cracking, debonding, fiber fracture, steel buckling, and concrete crushing. This technology can not only totally separate five types of damage sources, but also make it easier to judge the damage evolution process. Furthermore, typical damage waveforms were analyzed through wavelet analysis based on the cluster results, and the damage modes were determined according to the frequency distribution of AE signals.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.141-156
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• 2019

This paper presents the flexural behaviour of stainless steel beam-to-tubular column joints with extended endplates subjected to static loading. Moment-rotation relationships were investigated numerically by using Abaqus software with geometric and material nonlinearity considered. The prediction of damages among components was achieved through ductile damage models, and the influence of initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses was evaluated in large fabricated stainless steel joints involving hollow columns and concrete-filled columns. Parametric analysis was subsequently conducted to assess critical factors that could affect the flexural performance significantly in terms of the initial stiffness and moment resistance. A comparison between codes of practice and numerical results was thereafter made, and design recommendations were proposed for further applications. Results suggest that the finite element model can predict the structural behaviour reasonably well with the component damage consistent with test outcomes. Initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses are shown to have little effect on the moment-rotation responses. A series of parameters that can influence the joint behaviour remarkably include the strain-hardening exponents, stainless steel strength, diameter of bolts, thickness of endplates, position of bolts, section of beams and columns. AS/NZS 2327 is more reliable to predict the joint performance regarding the initial stiffness and moment capacity compared to EN 1993-1-8.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2019

Hollow steel-reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular member is a new kind of composite members. Firstly set the mold in the GFRP tube (non-bearing component), then set the longitudinal reinforcements with stirrups (steel reinforcement cage) between the GFRP tube and the mold, and filled the concrete between them. Through the axial compression test of the hollow steel-reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular member, the working mechanism and failure modes of composite members were obtained. Based on the experiment, when the load reached the ranges of $55-70%P_u$ ($P_u-ultimate$ load), white cracks appeared on the surface of the GFRP tubes of specimens. At that time, the confinement effects of the GFRP tubes on core concrete were obvious. Keep loading, the ranges of white cracks were expanding, and the confinement effects increased proportionally. In addition, the damages of specimens, which were accompanied with great noise, were marked by fiber breaking and resin cracking on the surface of GFRP tubes, also accompanied with concrete crushing. The bearing capacity of the axially compressed components increased with the increase of reinforcement ratio, and decreased with the increase of hollow ratio. When the reinforcement ratio was increased from 0 to 4.30%, the bearing capacity was increased by about 23%. When the diameter of hollow part was decreased from 55mm to 0, the bearing capacity was increased by about 32%.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.409-426
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• 2018

This paper presents the strengthening of tubular joint by wrapping Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP). In this study, total number of layers, stacking sequence and length of wrapping are the different parameters involved when fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) composites are used for strengthening. For this, parameters where varied and results were compared with the reference joint. The best stacking sequence was identified which has the highest value in ultimate load with lesser deflections. For determining the best stacking sequence, numerical investigation was performed on CFRP composites; length of wrapping and number of layers were fixed. Later, the studies were focused on CFRP and GFRP strengthened joint by varying the total number of layers and length of wrapping. An attempt was done to propose a parametric equation from multiple regression analysis, which can be used for CFRP strengthened joints. Hashin failure criteria was used to check the failure of composites. Results revealed that FRP was having a greater influence in the load bearing capacity of joints, and in reducing the deflections and stresses of joint under axial compressive loads. It was also seen that, CFRP was far better than GFRP in reducing the stresses and deflection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.325-351
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• 2022

This paper studies the lateral impact behavior of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) filled double-skin steel tubular (UHPFRCFDST) columns. The impact force, midspan deflection, and strain histories were recorded. Based on the test results, the influences of drop height, axial load, concrete type, and steel tube wall thickness on the impact resistance of UHPFRCFDST members were analyzed. LS-DYNA software was used to establish a finite element (FE) model of UHPFRC filled steel tubular members. The failure modes and histories of impact force and midspan deflection of specimens were obtained. The simulation results were compared to the test results, which demonstrated the accuracy of the finite element analysis (FEA) model. Finally, the effects of the steel tube thickness, impact energy, type of concrete and impact indenter shape, and void ratio on the lateral impact performances of the UHPFRCFDST columns were analyzed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.431-445
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• 2022

A double-skinned composite tubular (DSCT) column, which is an internally confined concrete-filled tubular column with a hollow section, has been developed for efficient use of materials that reduce self-weight and enhance seismic performance. It exhibits excellent material behavior with ductility owing to the confinement induced by outer and inner steel tubes. This study conducted axial compression tests considering the effects of steel tube thickness and hollow diameter ratios of DSCT columns on the material behavior of confined concrete under pure axial compression on concrete cores. From the axial compression tests, various combinations of outer and inner tube thicknesses and two different hollow section ratios were considered. Additionally, confined concrete material behavior, axial strength, failure modes, and ductility of DSCT columns were evaluated. Based on this study, it was concluded that the tests show a good correlation with peak strength and shapes of nonlinear stress-strain curves presented in literature; however, the thinner outer and inner steel tubes may reduce the ductility of DSCT columns when using thinner outer and inner tubes and higher confined stress levels. Finally, the minimum thickness requirements of the steel tubes for DSCT columns were discussed in terms of strength and ductility of test specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.689-706
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• 2022

Thin-walled square concrete-filled double steel tubular (CFDST) columns composed of the inner circular tube filled with concrete can be used to carry the large axial loads or strengthen existing CFST columns in composite constructions. This paper reports an experimental program carried out on short square CFDST columns loaded concentrically. The influences of important column parameters on the post-buckling performance of such columns are investigated. Test results exhibit that the inner circular tube significantly improves the ultimate loads and the ductility of such columns compared to conventional concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) and double-skin CFST (DCFST) columns with an inner void. A mathematical model developed is used to simulate the ultimate strengths and load-strain curves of such columns loaded axially. Furthermore, the ultimate strengths of such columns are predicted using existing codified design models for conventional CFST columns as well as the formulas proposed by previous researchers and compared against a large database comprising 500 CFDST columns. Lastly, an accurate artificial neural network model is developed for the practical applications of such columns under axial loading.