Experimental and numerical behaviour of eccentrically loaded high strength concrete filled high strength square steel tube stub columns

Abstract

Using high strength materials in concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns is expected to achieve better structural performance and fulfil the requirements of sustainable construction. To study the mechanical behaviour of eccentrically loaded high strength concrete filled high strength square steel tube (HCFHSST) stub columns, this paper describes 12 tests with different eccentricity ratios and steel ratios. The cubic strength of high strength concrete under investigation was 110.5 MPa, and the yield strength of the high strength steel was about 434 MPa. Curves of load-lateral deformation were presented, along with values of ductility index, and the minimum ductility index based on the steel ratio of columns was suggested. Finite element analysis (FEA) software ABAQUS was applied to simulate HCFHSSTs. The analytical results were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The load-lateral deformation curve was divided into four stages: elastic, elastic-plastic, plastic hardening and descending. The confinement effect of steel tube at various stages was analysed. The parametric studies were carried out to evaluate the influences of the eccentricity ratio, concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength and steel ratio on the strength reduction factor (SRF), concrete contribution ratio (CCR), P-M and P/Pu-M/Mu interaction curves of the HCFHSST members. The bending moments at balanced points of P/Pu-M/Mu curves calculated by the plastic stress distribution models (PSDM) and FEA models were compared. The ultimate bearing capacities obtained from the tests and the values calculated from the AISC 360, GB 50936 and CECS 28: 90 design codes were compared. Finally, the formulas were proposed to predict the P/Pu-M/Mu curves for the HCFHSST stub columns subjected to eccentric load. The proposed formulas’ predictions agreed well with the test results.