Strength and Stiffness of Circular Concrete-Filled Tubes
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 12
Abstract
Concrete-filled tubes (CFTs) are composite structural members that consist of a steel tube and concrete infill. CFTs optimize the contributions of both components by improving their geometric efficiency and fully using their inherent strengths. The concrete infill is confined by the steel tube, resulting in a triaxial state of compression that increases the strength and strain capacity of the concrete. The perimeter steel is at its optimal location, and the concrete infill delays local and global buckling of the tube. CFTs are easily and rapidly constructed and provide significant compression, bending, and shear resistance. They may be used for bridge piers and building columns. However, current design specifications for CFTs vary significantly, thereby limiting the current understanding and use of these components. This study addresses combined axial and flexural loading and determines the best models for predicting the stiffness and resistance of circular CFT. A database of 122 test specimens was compiled and evaluated. The results indicate that the plastic stress method is a simple yet effective method to predict the resistance of circular CFT components under combined loading. These data show that current specifications provide inaccurate predictions of the flexural stiffness, and a new stiffness expression is proposed. The proposed models permit simple yet accurate predictions of stiffness and resistance and allow engineers to use CFT components routinely in structural design.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the University of Washington and the California Department of Transportation through Agreement No. UNSPECIFIED59A0641. This funding is gratefully acknowledged. The contents of this article reflect the views of the writers, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the State of California or the Federal Highway Administration. This publication does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.UNSPECIFIED
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 12 • December 2010
Pages: 1545 - 1553
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 12, 2010
Accepted: Jun 6, 2010
Published online: Jun 15, 2010
Published in print: Dec 2010
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