Axial compressive behavior of recycled aggregate concrete steel composite columns

Abstract

In this Study the axial load-carrying capacity and behavior of a “Axial Compressive behavior of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Steel Composite Columns” (RACSCC) is investigated experimentally and simulated numerically. The study emphasizes the utilization of materials contributing to the circular economy in construction, specifically integrating steel and recycled aggregate into concrete. The environmentally sustainable concrete columns are formed by filling square steel tube sections with recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). The study includes six SRACC specimens and one bare conventional steel column. The specimens are subjected to axial compressive loading using the displacement control method. The investigation explores the impact of different coarse aggregate sizes of 12 mm, 16 mm, 22.4 mm, 25 mm, and 30 mm, obtained through sieving of demolished buildings materials. The study aims to address the impact of varying aggregate sizes on parameters such as maximum load-carrying capacity, strain, stress, lateral displacement, and failure patterns. The experimental results are validated and compared with the maximum load-carrying capacity, Strain, Stress, Lateral displacement, and failure patterns using numerical simulations conducted with the Ansys Workbench tool. The SRACC column comprises a hollow tube with 20 mm to 22.4 mm and 22.4 mm to 25 mm recycled aggregate and has a maximum load carrying capacity of 610.28 kN at 10 mm displacement. The local buckling failure occurred near the area load applied. The numerical simulations result for the composite columns agreed well with the experimental results. The results show the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) have a massive potential for construction support in circular economy. To create composite columns using the RAC as an alternative building material that will help to create an environmentally Sustainable construction