Analytical behavior of concrete-filled aluminum tubular stub columns under axial compression

Abstract

This paper presents numerical investigation of circular concrete-filled aluminum tubular (CFAT) stub columns under axial compression. The numerical models were developed using the finite element (FE) package ABAQUS. The parameters commonly employed in conventional CFST FE modeling have been discussed in this study. The nonlinearities of concrete and aluminum materials and the interaction between concrete and aluminum tube were considered. Numerical models were validated against collected experimental data. The ultimate loads, load-axial strain relationship and failure modes from numerical simulations were compared with those from experiments. The verified FE model was used to analyze structural behavior of full histories of the corresponding load-deformation N-ε response. Load-deformation N-ε curves for both concrete and aluminum tube were also presented. Upon on validation of the FE models, additional structural performance data over a wide range of diameter-to-thickness ratios, aluminum grades and concrete strengths were generated for parametric studies. The influences of diameter-to-thickness ratios, aluminum grades and concrete strengths on the ultimate strength were presented in this paper.

Numerical Investigation of the Composite Action of Axially Compressed Concrete-Filled Circular Aluminum Alloy Tubular Stub Columns

“…The multi-stress condition of the aluminum alloy tube was analyzed and parametric study based on the established model was conducted. Similar investigations were performed by other researchers including Zhao et al [ 24 ], Idan [ 25 ] and Patel et al [ 26 ] as well. To sum up, the aforementioned numerical studies are mainly focused on the discussion of the factors which affect the mechanical behaviors of CFAT columns under axial compression, but the investigations on the confinement effect and the composite action between the aluminum alloy tube and infilled concrete is still inadequate, and there is no specialized numerical model of the composite action of CFCAT columns has been reported.…”

“…While the reliability of the American specification is known [ 17 , 18 ], the Australian and New Zealand standards [ 19 , 20 ] were also evaluated against the test results and the predicted strength of square and rectangular columns using current design codes were considered unconservative. On the basis of the aforementioned experimental study, a parametric study of concrete-filled circular aluminum alloy tubular (CFCAT) columns subjected to the axial load using a numerical approach was carried out [ 21 , 22 ] and a design equation with higher accuracy than current design codes was proposed. KZ Nasser [ 15 ] conducted axial compression tests of 24 CFCAT stub columns specimens as well and the influence of diameters, diameter-to-thickness ratio and slenderness ratio on the columns bearing capacity were discussed.…”

“…The existing experimental studies indicated that the axially loaded behaviors of CFAT stub columns are similar to that of conventional CFST stub columns. To further discuss the mechanism of composite interaction in the axial loaded CFAT columns, numerical study, especially the fine finite element (FE) model analysis was presented by a small number of scholars [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. For example, Wang et al [ 22 ] established a fine-meshed FE model utilizing the general software ABAQUS [ 23 ] with the consideration of the interaction between the aluminum alloy tube and infilled concrete.…”

Axial Compression Behavior of Circular Concrete‐Filled High‐Strength Thin‐Walled Steel Tubular Columns with Out‐of‐Code D/t Ratios

“…e modulus of elasticity (E c ) and Poisson's ratio for concrete can be defined as 4700 �� f c and 0.2, respectively [2]. As for the tensile behavior of concrete, the fracture energybased method was utilized, and the equations for calculating the tensile strength (f t0 ) and fracture energy (G F ) are, respectively, as follows [37]: Advances in Materials Science and Engineering…”

“…e steel tube also acts as the framework for bearing the self-weight of upper structure before casting core concrete, therefore making a reduced labor employed and construction cost [2]. However, using normal-strength (NS) materials and limiting the axial compression ratio too high in the practical structures usually result in large section sizes to reduce the architecture aesthetics as well as the thicker steel plates to increase the welding difficulty and decrease the welding quality [3,4].…”