CONNECTIONS TO

CONCRETE-FILLED STEEL TUBES

By
YOUSEF MOHAMMED ALOSTAZ
and
STEPHEN PATRICK SCHNEIDER
A Report on Research Sponsored by the
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NSF CMS 93-00682
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
OCTOBER 1996

ABSTRACT
CONNECTIONS TO CONCRETE-FILLED STEEL TUBES
The objective of this research program was to study connections to concrete-filled
steel tubes. This
research focused on the connection to circular steel tubes, because this shape
presents more detailing
difficulties compared to the square counterpart. To accomplish the goals of this study,
the research was
divided into three phases: prototype frame design and analysis, a finite element
analysis of several
connections, and an experimental study on six large-scale connection specimens. In
the first phase, two
prototype moment-resisting steel frames were designed to satisfy the 1991 NEHRP
Provisions. The inelastic
performance of these frames was studied, and the connections with the highest
ductility demand were
isolated. The second phase of the research was devoted to the inelastic fmite element
analysis of several
connection details. A 3-D finite element model was developed for each connection
detail. The parameters
used in the analytical study included: the diameter-ta-tube waIl thickness ratio, the
applied axial load on the
column, the moment-ta-shear ratio of the girder, and the yield strength of the steel
tube. In the third phase
of the research, six 2/3rd-scale specimens were fabricated and tested with the quasistatic method. The
flexural strength of the connection was the primary concern in this study. The
analytical models and each
experimental specimen were aT-shape configuration. A monotonic load was applied to
the analytical finite
element models. For the test specimens, a predetermined cyclic displacement was
imposed at the girder tip,
and the specimens were tested to destruction.
Analytical and experimental results suggest that connections which attach exclusively
to the tube
wall exhibit large distortion of the tube wall in the connection vicinity, thus preventing
the development of
the girder flexural strength. Using external diaphragms improved the simple
connection behavior, however,
the performance was susceptible to the geometry of the diaphragm. The behavior was
significantly improved
when part of the girder forces was transferred to the concrete core. However, the
improvement in behavior
depended on the connection detail. Continuing the girder through the concrete-filled
steel tube was the most
effective method to develop the full plastic hinge in the connected girder.
Lll