Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Large-Scale Circular Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Columns with Various Constructural Measures under High Axial Load Ratios

Abstract

To investigate the effect of constructional measures (including horizontal and vertical stiffeners, rebar cages, embedded steel tubes, and cavity welded steel plates) under high axial load ratios on the seismic performance of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns, quasi-static tests for six large-scale CFST columns with various constructional measures are performed. All specimens are subjected to identical axial forces. The failure mode, hysteresis characteristics, bearing capacity, stiffness degradation, ductility, and energy dissipation of specimens are analyzed. The study shows that the horizontal stiffener delays the occurrence and severity of column base buckling, the vertical stiffener improves the bending resistance capacity and initial stiffness of the member, the rebar cage improves the ductility, and the embedded circular steel tube significantly improves the member’s bearing capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation. When an internal circular steel tube and cavity welded steel plate are applied in tandem, the section steel ratio increases by 4.42% and the bearing capacity improves by 42.72%. A finite element model is created to verify test results, and simulation results match the test results well.