Structural Behaviour of Axially Loaded Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns during the Top-Down Construction Method

Abstract

The paper discusses the structural behaviour of concrete-filled steel tube columns (CFT) when applied to the top-down construction method as temporary internal supports for ceilings. Their ultimate capacity to take into account the actual boundary conditions of the column is essential for successful application in construction. The paper presents the full-scale in situ testing of four slender specimens with variable D/t ratios under concentric axial loading. The CFT columns were supported on the previously jacked concrete piles. In addition, detailed finite element numerical models in ABAQUS and PLAXIS computer programs were developed. The models include the nonlinear behaviour of materials and the nonlinear behaviour of soil. The soil–pile–column interaction and impact of the CFT column–pile connection stiffness on global column stability were considered. The numerical model was validated by comparison with the experimental results. In conclusion, the coefficient for the effective buckling length of the studied columns is proposed. Finally, the experimental results of the critical buckling forces were compared with widely used international design codes Eurocode 4-EC4, American standard-ACI and the Australian standard-AS.