Compressive performance of SWSSC-filled CFRP-stainless steel composite tube columns

Abstract

The structure of concrete confined by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and stainless steel tubes was investigated. The columns, which take advantage of the ductility and corrosion resistance of stainless steel, are composed of stainless steel tube, core seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC) and outer FRP. Forty circular SWSSC-filled FRP-stainless steel composite tube columns (SCFSSCTs) were manufactured and subjected to axial compression tests. After fracturing of the FRP, the failure modes of the specimens mainly showed extrusion expansion, with a small amount of shear failure. The increase in the thickness of the stainless steel and the number of FRP layers resulted in a significant improvement in the load capacity and deformation capacity of the structure, which was more evident in the specimens with higher steel contents. With the increase in the number of FRP layers, the increases in ultimate stress and ultimate strain were 40.4% − 130.0% and 118.6% − 282.4%, respectively, compared with the column with single stainless steel confinement. The stress–strain curves for the SCFSSCTs were similar to those of structures reinforced by FRP and carbon steel and were divided into four stages. Models were proposed to predict the full axial stress–strain curves of SCFSSCTs, including the ultimate point and the peak point.