Seismic Performance of Composite EWECS Columns in New Hybrid Structural System

This paper presents the results of experimental and analytical studies on Engineering Wood Encased Concrete-Steel (EWECS) composite columns. A total of four specimens with the scale of about two-fifth were tested under combined constant axial load and lateral load reversals. Variables investigated include the type of woody shell connection between column and loading stub and the presence of shear studs. The test results indicated that EWECS columns had excellent hysteretic behavior without severe damage even at large story drift of 0.04 radian. The results also showed that EWECS columns with the type of column-stub connection consisting of woody shell and wood panel attached to stub showed high performance in both capacity and damage limit. In addition, the presence of shear studs on EWECS columns improved the deformation capacity of the column and reduced the damage of woody shell. An analytical study was also performed using fiber section analysis to simulate the behavior of the composite columns.