Experimental behavior of circular composite columns with different weld arrangements

Abstract

Eighteen (18) circular short composite columns including 9 concrete-filled steel columns and 9 concrete-filled stainless steel columns, were experimentally studied in this paper. All composite columns have the same dimensions: D= 160 mm, H= 300 mm and t= 2 mm. The objective of this study is to shed light on the effect of the number and arrangement of lateral and longitudinal welds on the resistance and behavior of concrete-filled composite columns. Based on the results obtained, it was confirmed that weld joints have slight effect on the bearing capacity and instability modes of the studied composite columns. Lateral and longitudinal welds were very successful in conveying compression and bending efforts. The experimentally measured load-bearing capacities of the composite columns were compared to those predicted by Eurocode 4, AISC 360–16 and the equation proposed by Giakoumelis and Lam. All the results predicted by the AISC 360–16 code showed a good concordance with the experimental test results. However, the predictions calculated by the EC4 and the equation proposed by Giakoumelis and Lam were not conservative. This investigation shows that the use of lateral and longitudinal welds in composite columns applications would result in a reliable and economical design. This encourages designers to build their confidence in the use of this type of waste metal plates as structural components of locally produced materials.