Seismic Behaviors of Concrete-Filled T-Shaped Steel Tube Columns

Abstract

Concrete-filled special-shaped (L-shaped, T-shaped, and cross-shaped, and etc.) steel tube column is a type of member in which concrete is poured into special-shaped steel tube so that steel and concrete support loads together. It improves the seismic behaviors of reinforced concrete special-shaped columns due to the better confining effects provided by the steel tube. A test research on the seismic behaviors of one concrete-filled T-shaped steel tube column with pseudo static method is presented and the load-displacement curve and skeleton curve are provided. Series of steel bar stiffeners were welded onto the steel tube in order to postpone the buckling of steel tube and to enhance confining effects. A numerical analysis program was developed using a fiber-based method. The constitutive model of concrete employed the modified Mander model, and that of steel employed a bi-linear model considering the Bausinger effect. The numerical analysis program was verified by the test results and parametric analysis was carried out, in which the influences of the ratio of axial compression stress to strength, steel tube thickness and concrete strength were mainly discussed. The following conclusions are obtained: with the increase of the ratio of axial compression stress to strength, the bearing capacity of member increases and the energy dissipation capacity improve, while the ductility deteriorates. With the increase of steel tube thickness, the initial rigidity, bearing capacity, ductility and energy dissipation capacity improves simultaneously. With the increase of concrete strength, the bearing capacity increases, the energy dissipation capacity improves, while the ductility deteriorates.