Abstract. Push-out tests have been conducted on 18 rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns with the aim of studying the bond behaviour between the steel tube and the concrete infill. The obtained load-slip response and the distribution of the interface bond stress along the member length and around the cross-section for various load levels, as derived from measured axial strain gradients in the steel tube, are reported. Concrete compressive strength, interface length, cross-sectional dimensions and different interface conditions were varied to assess their effect on the ultimate bond stress. The test results indicate that lubricating the steel-concrete interface always had a significant adverse effect on the interface bond strength. Among the other variables considered, concrete compressive strength and cross-section size were found to have a pronounced effect on the bond strength of non-lubricated specimens for the range of cross-section geometries considered, which is not reflected in the European structural design code for composite structures, EN 1994-1-1. Finally, based on nonlinear regression of the test data generated in the present study, supplemented by additional data obtained from the literature, an empirical equation has been proposed for predicting the average ultimate bond strength for SHS and RHS filled with normal strength concrete.

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Axial compression tests have been carried out on 18 rectangular concrete-filled cold-formed steel tubular (CFST) columns with the aim of investigating the axial behaviour of rectangular CFST columns under different loading methods (steel loaded-first and full-section loaded methods). The influence of different loading methods on the ultimate strength of the specimens was compared and the development of Poisson's Ratio as it responds to an increasing load was reported and analysed. Then, the relationship between the constraining factor and the strength index, and the relationship between the constraining factor and ductility index of the specimens, were both discussed. Furthermore, the test results of the full-section loaded specimens were compared with five international code predicted values, and an equation was derived to predict the axial carrying capacity for rectangular CFST columns with a steel loaded-first loading method.

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