Composite number

Engineering

Materials science

Stub (electronics)

Ductility (Earth science)

Creep

Stirrup

Composite material

Fiber

Structural engineering

Fiber-reinforced concrete

Brittleness

Reinforcement

Compressive strength

Engineering Structures

This paper presents an experimental program that studies the structural behaviour of high strength Concrete Encased Steel (CES) composite columns. The structural performance under compression, including the damage pattern, load-carrying capacity, post-peak ductility, and load-displacement response is experimentally investigated. A total of 14 specimens were tested under concentric compression. The parameters studied in this program include concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, stirrup spacing, incorporation of steel fiber, as well as the shape of the structural steel section. To evaluate the material compatibility between high strength concrete and high strength steel, two concrete grades (C90, C130) and two steel grades (S500, S690) were used to prepare the test specimens. In addition, 0.5% volume fraction of steel fiber was added in concrete mix to minimize the inherent brittleness of high strength concrete. The comparison between test results and analytical predictions reveals the inability of existing design codes to estimate high strength CES columns, unless steel fiber and dense reinforcement are used in combination. The effect of material strength, steel fibers, volumetric ratios of hoop reinforcement, and shape of steel section on both strength and ductility of CES columns was assessed through a comprehensive parametric study. The analysis of test results demonstrates that steel contribution ratio plays a dominant role in the ductility, whereas increasing hoop reinforcement ratio and adding steel fiber has negligible effect. Finally, a simplified formula is proposed to evaluate ductility of high strength CES columns.

Behavior of high strength concrete encased steel composite stub columns with C130 concrete and S690 steel