Post-Fire Performance of Square Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns under Uni-Axial Load

Abstract

This paper presents experimental studies on the post-fire performance of concrete-filled steel tube (CSFT) columns under uni-axial load. The structural responses and axial load capacity of CSFT columns after exposure to elevated temperatures are investigated and discussed. All of the specimens are 750 mm in height, the nominal cross-section of the specimen is 150 mm x 150 mm, and have cylinder compressive strength of 18 MPa. The primary test parameters to be measured during the uni-axial compression test are wall thicknesses of the square tube (3.0 mm, 4.5 mm and 6.0 mm) and three different exposure to elevated temperatures (400°C, 600°C and 800°C). The results showed that the load-axial shortening relationship of the CSFT columns have a linear elastic response up to 80-90% of axial load capacity. After the axial load capacity is reached, the load-axial shortening curves are rarely becoming a nonlinear manner. It is also shown that the axial load capacity and ductility of the post-fire test columns are decreased significantly compared to the columns at ambient temperature, depending mainly on the elevated temperature. In addition, by comparing the axial load capacity of the test results with those obtained from the ACI design equation, the comparison results indicate that calculation formula in ACI code unconservative predicts the axial load capacity of the CSFT columns after exposure to elevated temperatures. Finally, the residual strength ratios are modified to both strength of concrete and steel tube under ambient temperature, and analyzed to evaluate the effect of post-fire behavior on the axial capacity of CFST columns.