Study on the compression performance of steel reactive powder concrete columns

Abstract

In this study, the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of steel reactive powder concrete columns with different strength grades were investigated through compression testing. Six steel reactive powder concrete columns were tested; three columns underwent axial compression testing and three columns underwent eccentric compression testing. The results of the axial compression testing showed that steel and reactive powder concrete could work cooperatively at the initial stage, and the final column failure mode was primarily splitting failure at the end of the column, with the formation of a main crack in the longitudinal direction extending to the middle of the column. The results of the eccentric compression testing showed that the eccentrically loaded steel reactive powder concrete columns had comparatively strong deformability. The columns presented ductile failure mode under the eccentric load with 0.2 eccentricity. The final failure of the column involved a sudden increase in the horizontal crack width on the tension side, the steel flange on the tension side reached the yield state, the reactive powder concrete in the middle of the compressive side was crushed, and the reactive powder concrete surface layer burst open and partially spalled off. According to the test results and with reference to the relevant standards, equations for calculating the approximate ultimate bearing capacities of axially and eccentrically compressed reactive powder concrete columns were proposed.