Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

Performance and design of eccentrically-loaded concrete-filled

round-ended elliptical hollow section stub columns
Qihan Shen a, Jingfeng Wang a,b,⁎, Wanqian Wang a, Zhibin Wang c
a
School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province 230009, China
b
Anhui Civil Engineering Structures and Materials Laboratory, Anhui Province 230009, China
c
College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350108, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Concrete-filled round-ended elliptical hollow section (CFREHS) columns are gradually coming into use as piers
Received 10 May 2018 and arches in engineering practice, owing to their unique properties concerning aesthetic perception and low
Received in revised form 28 June 2018 flow resistance coefficients. However, there has been a paucity of studies focusing on the structural behaviour
Accepted 22 July 2018
and design methods for CFREHS columns. The present study has involved investigating the behaviour of eccen-
Available online 24 August 2018
trically-loaded CFREHS stub columns. A nonlinear numerical model that adopts an equivalent stress-strain model
Keywords:
for the novel type of confined core concrete was established, and verified via experimental data. Subsequently,
Concrete-filled round-ended elliptical hollow the effects of various parameters on the eccentric compressive response of CFREHS stub columns were analysed,
section (CFREHS) column including the diameter-to-thickness ratio, load eccentricity ratio, and the cross-section slenderness. Eccentric
Eccentric compressive behaviour compressive capacities, failure patterns, strength indexes, stress–strain responses, contact stress, typical force-
Numerical modelling displacement curves, and M–N curves of eccentrically pressured CFREHS stub columns were also evaluated.
Mechanical performance The findings of the numerical analysis indicated that the eccentric load bearing capacity of CFREHS stub columns
Simplified empirical formulae evidently increased for increases in the cross-section area, steel strength, and concrete strength, while the oppo-
site was observed for increases in the load eccentricity ratio and diameter-to-thickness ratio. Finally, simplified
empirical formulae were presented to predict the eccentric load bearing capacities of CFREHS stub columns.
The results of the study are expected to provide a reliable reference for application to the proposed CFREHS col-
umns in concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) structures.
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
In recent decades, reinforced concrete (RC) columns with round
ends have commonly been employed in bridge engineering, given the
various demands for transverse and longitudinal stiffness. However,
some disadvantages of RC columns include difficulties in construction,
deterioration in durability, and a reduction in impact resistance. In addi-
tion, an increased demand for the construction of heavy-haul railways,
large-scale bridges, and advanced expressways in earthquake-prone
areas, with requirements for high bearing capacities and superior ductil-
ity, has emerged as an unavoidable consequence of economic develop-
ment. In order to withstand high traffic flows and the increasing
weights of high-rise buildings, concrete-filled steel hollow section col-
umns are commonly employed and favoured by several engineers and
scholars, including Wang et al. [1], Li et al. [2], Hassanein et al. [3], Liu
et al. [4, 5], Petrus et al. [6], Ren et al. [7, 8], Wang et al. [9], Wang and
Zhang [10], Ding et al. [11], Thayalan et al. [12], Huo et al. [13], Aslani
⁎ Corresponding author at: School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology,
Anhui Province 230009, China.
E-mail address: jfwang008@163.com (J. Wang).
et al. [14, 15], and Liao et al. [16, 17]. In view of the superior properties
of round-ended concrete columns and normal concrete-filled steel tube
(CFST) members, a type of hybrid supporting member termed a con-
crete-filled round-ended elliptical hollow section (CFREHS) column
has been conceived and examined by several researchers [18, 19],
owing to its combined advantages.
The CFREHS column comprises a round-ended hollow steel section
and a concrete infill (shown in Fig. 1). This novel composite column ex-
hibits all the superiorities of normal CFST columns, including high
strength, easy construction, good ductility, and high earthquake and im-
pact resistant behaviour. Furthermore, the CFREHS column also
achieves superior aesthetic perception, a low fluid resistance factor,
and high structural efficiency, owing to the reasonable distribution of
its cross-section slenderness. Therefore, some engineers and architects
have been increasingly inclined to employ this type of column in
large-scale bridge projects. For example, the Houhu cable-stayed bridge
in China employed this type of column for piers, as shown in Fig. 2.
In recent years, a few studies have focused on the experimental be-
haviour of CFREHS columns, with attention concentrated entirely on
their engineering applications and axial compressive performance. For
example, Ding et al. [18] carried out an experimental study that

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2018.07.025
0143-974X/© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
100 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
Fig. 1. Detail of CFREHS cross-section.Note: "B" and "D" represent the major and minor axis
length of CFREHScolumn, respectively; "t" represents the thickness of steel tube.
explored the axial compressive behaviour of CFREHS stub columns with
a varied cross-section slenderness ranging from 1 to 4. Wang et al. [19]
examined the performance of stiffened and thin-walled CFREHS stub
columns under axial pressure. Hassanein and Patel [20] adopted a nu-
merical analysis approach to investigate the performance of axially-
loaded CFREHS stub columns. Han et al. [21] conducted an experiment
to predict the axial compressive response of concrete-filled round-
ended double-skin steel hollow section columns. Xie et al. [22] investi-
gated the behaviour of coupled CFREHS tower columns in the construc-
tion of a long-span cable-stayed bridge. All of the test results revealed
that this novel type of CFST column displayed high strength, good duc-
tility, and convenient construction properties. Although eccentric com-
pressive members, such as side and corner columns, commonly exist in
buildings, there exists a paucity of studies concerning the behaviour of
CFREHS columns under eccentric pressure. Therefore, it is highly impor-
tant to investigate this type of eccentrically-loaded composite column.
Conversely, with development of the finite element (FE) simulation
method, a numerical analysis approach that explores the behaviour of
CFREHS columns provides an effective method for reducing the time
spent by researchers on further studies. However, it is difficult to simu-
late CFREHS columns, owing to the insufficiency in cognizing an actual
stress-strain model for confined concrete that has a round-ended ellip-
tical feature. Hence, in order to efficiently explore the static behaviour of
CFREHS columns, a demand is emerging to conduct a discussion on the
stress–strain relationship and establish an FE model of the CFREHS stub
column.
The present study attempted to explore the mechanical perfor-
mance of CFREHS stub columns subjected to eccentric loading. An FE
model of a CFREHS stub column under eccentric loading was developed
by introducing an equivalent stress-strain model for confined core
Fig. 2. CFREHS tower column in engineering practice.
concrete with round ends. After the respective analytical models were
verified via the test data, a parametric analysis was performed to inves-
tigate the effects of the load eccentricity ratio, cross-section slenderness,
and diameter-to-thickness ratio on the eccentric load bearing capacity
of this type of column. Analytical FE results including failure modes,
strength indexes, stress–strain responses, contact stress, typical force
(N)-longitudinal shortening (δ) curves, and uniaxial bending moment
(M)-eccentric compressive load (N) curves of the CFREHS stub columns
were also obtained. Finally, simplified empirical formulae to calculate
the eccentric load bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub column were
proposed, in compliance with the unified theory method and simple su-
perposition principle. The research results are expected to provide a re-
liable reference for applying this novel type of composite column in
practical engineering.
2. Finite element modelling
Presently, there has been a paucity of studies conducting numerical
analyses on CFREHS stub columns. Despite the existing studies [18, 19]
mentioned above, numerical simulations of the eccentric compressive
behaviour of CFREHS columns present some difficulties, owing to the
deficiency in the actual stress–strain model for this novel type of con-
fined concrete infill. Furthermore, the contact interaction between the
concrete infill outside surface and the steel tube inside surface is ambig-
uous, because of the limited research on CFREHS columns. For effec-
tively assessing the eccentric compressive performance of CFREHS
stub columns, FE analytical models considering the aforementioned
problems have been established using the ABAQUS/Standard solver.
The material models and other modelling details are discussed below.
2.1. Steel properties
In general, commercially available steel hollow sections (SHS) and
steel plates are typically employed as steel tubes and loading plates in
experiments. Hence, the stress–strain (σ)-(ε) model, as recommended
by Han [23], was employed to simulate the actual conditions of the
test specimens (seen in Fig. 3). The σ–ε model is expressed as follows:
8
> Es ε ε ≤ε e
>
>
> −Aε2 þ Bε þ C
> εe < ε ≤ε e1
>
< fy εe1 < ε ≤ε e2
σ¼
 ð1Þ
>
> ε−ε e2
> f
> y 1 þ 0:6 ε e2 < ε ≤ε e3
>
> εe3 −ε e2
:
1:6f y ε > εe3
where A = 0.2fy/(εe1 − εe)2, B = 0.2Aεel, C ¼ 0:8f y þ Aε e 2 −Bε e , Es
Fig. 3. Stress (σ) - strain (ε) curve of steel.
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 101

denotes the modulus of elasticity, and fy denotes the yielding strength.

In addition, εe denotes the proportional limit strain, which is set as εe
= 0.8fy/Es; and εe1, εe2, and εe3 denote various strains, which are set as
εe1 = 1.5εe, εe2 = 10εe1, and εe3 = 100εe1.

2.2. Concrete properties

With respect to the CFST columns with normal cross-sections, the

constitutive relationship for the core concrete of the CFREHS stub col-
umn has not been examined in detail in previous experimental studies.
Thus, to a certain extent research on the numerical analysis lags behind
experimental investigations. Hence, it is necessary to develop a corre-
sponding constitutive relationship for the core concrete of the CFREHS
stub column.
Although the cross-section of the CFREHS column can be divided
into a rectangular part and two semi-circular parts, it is difficult to ana-
lyse the proposed type of composite column in the application of con-
fined concrete models of various shapes, given the complex and
unclear response of the core concrete. Based on [19], the contact effect
between the steel hollow section and core concrete infill was mainly
situated in the semi-circular areas of the cross-section, while the inter-
action was barely observed around the rectangular part of the CFREHS
column. In addition, it should be noted that some problems were ob- Fig. 4. Equivalent method for confined core concrete.
served when confined and partially-confined concrete models were
employed for the respective semi-circular and the rectangular parts, in-
cluding a lack of convergence and inconsistent deformation. Hence, an slenderness of <4, owing to the limitation of the testing sample size.
equivalent confined core concrete relationship is presented to address Therefore, the description of the corresponding method is as follows:
these issues.
8 
The equivalent method for a rectangular cross-section with round >
> π D
ends originates from investigations presented by Zhao and Packer [24] < D− 1−
4 β 1:44≤β < 4 rectangular
De ¼ rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ð2Þ
and Ruiz-Teran and Gardner [25]. Based on these, the elliptical cross- > 1 < β < 1:44 circular
: 1 þ 4ðβ−1ÞD
>
section is regarded as a circular cross-section, to approximate its actual π
stress–strain relationship. It has been demonstrated that the aforemen-
tioned method provides an easy and effective approach to accurately
where De denotes the diameter length of the equivalent circular cross-
examining the performances of elliptical steel hollow section tubes
sectional geometry or the short side length of the equivalent rectangular
and elliptical CFST columns. This has led to similar observations with re-
cross-sectional geometry; β denotes the cross-section slenderness of
spect to approximating the cross-sectional geometry of the CFREHS col-
the CFREHS column, β = B/D; and B and D denote the major and
umn as a normal cross-section.
minor diameter lengths of the CFREHS stub column, respectively.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the geometry of the CFREHS stub column con-
By substituting the round-ended elliptical cross-sectional geometry
sists of a rectangular part and two semi-circular parts. When the major
of the core concrete infill for a normal geometry, the stress-strain (σ-
diameter (B) approximately corresponds to the minor diameter (D), the
ε) relationships of the confined core concrete recommended by Han
geometric characteristics of the CFREHS column are similar to those of a
[23] for normal CFST columns were utilised to estimate the mechanical
circular CFST column. Conversely, the geometrical properties of the
behaviour of CFREHS columns. The constitutive models for circular and
CFREHS column are closer to those of a rectangular CFST column
rectangular core concrete infills can be expressed as follows:
when the major diameter length significantly exceeds the minor diam-
eter length, owing to the plate edges. In the substitution process, both (
the steel ratio and cross-sectional area were constant when the novel 2x−x2 x≤1
y¼ x
geometry of the CFREHS column was equated to a circular or rectangu- η x>1
β
80 ðx−1 Þ þ x
lar one. Detailed assumptions on the equivalent cross-section of the   0:25þðξ−0:5Þ7 
>
>
> −5 ½ 0:5
CFREHS stub column are described in Fig. 4. < 2:36  10  f c ≥0:12
Circular CFST
Thus, numerous FE models employing various equivalent constitu- β0 ¼ 0:1
>
> f Rectangular CFST ð3Þ
tive models were established to determine whether it is appropriate >
: pcffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 1:2 1 þ ξ
to consider core concrete with round ends as circular or rectangular. 2 Circular CFST
To verify the validity of the equivalent method, Wang and Shen [26] η¼
1:6 þ 1:5=x Rectangular CFST
have already conducted a comparison between numerical results and As f y
experimental data (as illustrated in Fig. 5). The comparison results can ξ¼
Ac f ck
be summarised as follows: 1) With respect to a cross-section slender-
ness (B/D) of the CFREHS column that exceeded 1.44 (1.44 ≤ B/D < 4),
where x = ɛ/ɛ0,y = σ/σ0, σ0 = fc′, ε0 = εc + 800ξ0.210−6, εc = (1300
the calculated axial load (N)-axial displacement (δ) curves exhibited a
+ 125f'c) ⋅ 10−6; Ac and As denote the cross-sectional areas of the
better agreement with the experimental N–δ curves when the cross-
inner core concrete and outer steel tube wall, respectively; fy denotes
sectional geometry of the CFREHS column corresponded to a rectangu-
the yielding stress of the steel hollow section; and fck denotes the char-
lar one; 2) Under the condition that the cross-section slenderness of the
acteristic compressive strength of the concrete infill, with fck = 0.67fcu
CFREHS column was lower than 1.44 (1 < B/D < 1.44), the predicted re-
where fcu denotes the cubic compressive strength of the unconfined
sults indicated a good agreement with the experiments when the cross-
core concrete. The initial elastic modulus of the core concrete is set as
section corresponded to a circular one. It should be stressed that the qffiffiffiffiffi
0
equivalent method is suitable for a CFREHS column with a cross-section 4700 f c (MPa), and the Poisson ratio of the core concrete is set as
102 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114

Fig. 5. Comparison between test results [18, 19] and FE analytical results using various equivalent methods.

0.2, where both are determined based on the specifications of the ACI
Committee 318 [27].
In order to further ensure that the equivalent concrete properties
were correct in terms of analysing the performance of CFREHS columns,
failure modes in [18, 19] were compared with those in the FE models. It
was observed that the failure modes including outward buckles in the
steel hollow section and shear failure of the CFREHS column were re-
spectively reflected in the numerical analysis models (described in Fig.
6 and Table 1), and these indicated a good agreement with the experi-
mental phenomena.
2.3. Boundary conditions and contact interaction
The boundary conditions and eccentric load were imposed on the
loading plate through the reference points (RPs). In addition, knife
hinges on the loading plates were also applied in the numerical model-
ling, to simulate the pinned joints of the CFREHS stub column under ec-
centric loading. Subsequently, for the bottom loading plate the
displacements in three directions were restrained, while the rotations
were free. In terms of the top loading plate, the displacements in the x
and y axes were fixed, while the rotations in three directions and the

Fig. 6. Validation on failure modes of tests [18, 19] and FE modelling.

 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 103

Table 1
Comparison between test data and FE results calculated by various equivalent constitutive models.

Reference Specimens Dimensions B/D fcu fy Nu,t Nue,r Nue,r/Nu,t Nue,c Nue,c/Nu,t
B × D × t × h(mm) (MPa) (MPa) (kN) (kN) (kN)

Wang et al. [18] RCFST-1 168.5 × 117.0 × 2.86 × 540 1.44 38.1 324.6 925 936 1.01 1043 1.13
RCFST-2 229.0 × 118.0 × 2.86 × 721.9 1.94 38.1 324.6 1215 1216 1.00 1347 1.11
RCFST-3 349.5 × 116.5 × 2.86 × 1080 3.00 38.1 324.6 1635 1702 1.04 1956 1.20
RCFST-4 237.5 × 156.5 × 2.86 × 719.6 1.52 38.1 324.6 1658 1708 1.03 1716 1.03
RCFST-5 317.0 × 158.5 × 2.86 × 962.3 2.00 38.1 324.6 2091 2118 1.01 2220 1.06
Ding et al. [19] WST1-A 299 × 252 × 3.75 × 750 1.19 40.4 327.7 3429 3276 0.96 3326 0.97
WST1-B 302 × 249 × 3.75 × 750 1.21 40.4 327.7 3338 3286 0.98 3335 1.00
WST2-A 299 × 255 × 5.84 × 750 1.17 40.4 299.5 4162 3814 0.92 3929 0.94
WST2-B 300 × 251 × 5.80 × 750 1.20 40.4 299.5 4168 3802 0.91 3915 0.94
WST3-A 350 × 255 × 3.72 × 900 1.37 40.4 327.7 3929 3884 0.99 3883 0.99
WST4-A 352 × 251 × 5.90 × 900 1.40 40.4 299.5 4492 4404 0.98 4469 0.99

Note: Nue,r and Nue,c respectively represent the results predicted by the FE models using rectangular and circular confined core concrete model; B/D represents the cross-section slender-
ness of the column.

displacement in the z axis were free. The contact behaviour between the
column and loading plate was simulated by the “tie” option. A typical FE
model of a CFREHS stub column under eccentric pressure is presented in
Fig. 7.
The contact behaviour between the SHS and core concrete was also
considered, by utilising the surface-to-surface contact option. Based on
the results observed by Wang and Shen [26], a friction factor of 0.3 in
the tangential direction was suggested. Similarly, the same friction fac-
tor was also employed in [28, 29].
2.4. FE model validation
stub columns were evaluated in the major and minor axis directions.
The parameters include the following:
• Geometric parameters: load eccentricity ratio (e), diameter-to-thick-
ness ratio (B/t), cross-section slenderness (B/D), and cross-sectional
area (Asc).
• Material parameters: steel tube strength (fy) and concrete infill
strength (fcu).
• Detailed information regarding the numerical analysis models is pre-
sented in Table 2.

The accuracy of the FE modelling was tested and verified by compar-
ing the experimental data provided in [30] with the predicted results
obtained by the FE models (as shown in Fig. 8). This indicated that the
maximum difference between the FE results and test data corresponded
to 7%, while this potentially originated from the differences in site con-
ditions and imperfections between the analytical models and experi-
mental specimens. In general, the comparison demonstrated that the
FE analytical data was in strong agreement with the experiments, and
the FE analytical approach proposed in this section provides an efficient
and accurate method that can be employed in further studies.
3. Numerical results
Following the numerical modelling of CFREHS stub columns sub-
jected to eccentric pressure, a parametric study on the mechanical be-
haviour of eccentrically-loaded CFREHS stub columns was conducted.
It should be stressed that the influences of all parameters on the CFREHS
3.1. Load eccentricity ratio (e)
Various load eccentricity ratios of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and
1.50 were explored in this section, as shown in Fig. 9a. The FE analytical
results indicated that the eccentric load bearing capacities of CFREHS
stub columns reduced as the load eccentricity ratio increased. In the
major axis direction, the eccentric load bearing capacities of the CFREHS
stub columns with load eccentricity ratios of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25,
and 1.50 were 36.0%, 53.0%, 62.8%, 69.3%, 73.8%, and 77.2%, respectively,
which are lower than those of the axially-loaded CFREHS stub column.
The load carrying capacities of the columns were correspondingly re-
duced by 22.4%, 36.6%, 46.4%, 53.6%, 59.1%, and 63.4% in the minor
axis direction.
In addition, it should be highlighted that the failure modes of the
thin-walled CFREHS stub columns under eccentric loading were af-
fected by changes in the load eccentricity ratio (as shown in Fig. 11).
The parametric analysis indicated that local steel tube buckling and con-
crete crushing adjacent to the column ends were observed when the
vertical load was exerted with a low load eccentricity ratio. With an in-
creased load eccentricity ratio, outward buckles in the steel tube, con-
crete cracks in the tensile side, and concrete crushing in the
compressive side were primarily situated at the mid-height of the
column.

3.2. Diameter-to-thickness ratio (B/t)

For the purpose of investigating the influence of the diameter-to-

Fig. 7. Typical FE model of CFREHS stub column under eccentric compression.
thickness ratio on the eccentric behaviour of a thin-walled CFREHS
stub column, a constant geometry with different steel tube thicknesses
of 3, 5, 8, and 10 mm (corresponding to diameter-to-thickness ratios of
133.3, 80, 50, and 40) was examined. As illustrated in Fig. 9b, the load
bearing capacities of CFREHS stub columns under eccentric loading in-
creased as B/t decreased. The load bearing capacities of the CFREHS col-
umn with a steel tube thickness of 3 mm were 5.2% and 6.6% lower than
those of the CFREHS stub column with a steel tube thickness of 5 mm in
the major and minor diameter directions, respectively. When the thick-
ness of the steel tube increased from 5 mm to 8 mm and 10 mm, the
104 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
Fig. 8. Comparison between test results [29] and FE analytical results of CFREHS stub columns under eccentric compression.Note: Ne represents the eccentric compressive strength of the
CFREHS stub columnin Ref. [29]; μ represents the lateral deflection
eccentric load bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub column increased by
21.6% and 37.6%, respectively, along the primary axis, where the corre-
sponding improvements were 25.1% and 44.1% when the pressure was
imposed on the secondary axis.
Conversely, the effect of B/t on the failure patterns of an eccentri-
cally-loaded CFREHS stub composite column was also observed in the
parametric analysis (as shown in Fig. 11). It was indicated that outward
buckles in the steel hollow section at the mid-height of the CFREHS stub
column exhibited ductile behaviour when B/t was lower than 40. In con-
trast, the composite columns failed in the shear failure mode with an in-
crease in B/t.
3.3. Cross-section slenderness (B/D)
Various (B/D)-values at the same cross-sectional area (Asc) and steel
ratio (As/Ac) are examined in this section. Circular and square CFST stub
columns were analysed to study the influences of various section types
when the cross-section slenderness was equal to 1. Fig. 9c depicts the
impact of the cross-section slenderness on the N-δ curves with a load
eccentricity ratio of 0.50. This indicates that a distinct difference of
5.9% was present in the eccentric compressive capacity between the cir-
cular and square CFST columns. With respect to the CFREHS stub col-
umn, the load bearing capacity of the column with a cross-section
slenderness of 2 was 7.5% and 13.3% lower than those of the columns
with cross-section slenderness values of 2.5 and 3, respectively, in the
major axis direction. However, the eccentric load bearing capacities of
the CFREHS stub columns with cross-section slenderness values of 2.5
and 3 decreased by 7.1% and 11.3%, respectively, in the minor direction.
Therefore, the results indicate that the eccentric load bearing capacity of
the CFREHS stub column increases with an increase in the cross-section
slenderness in the major axis direction, while results suggesting the
converse were obtained when the load was imposed along the minor
direction.
In this part of the analysis, failure modes were also observed to be
correlated to the cross-section slenderness of the column. It was also ob-
served that outward local buckles in the thin-walled steel tubes were
accompanied by shear failure of the core concrete, and these were ob-
served from the top to middle parts of the columns (illustrated in Fig.
11). Similar findings were also obtained in [4, 18].
3.4. Cross-sectional area (Asc)
An investigation of the effect of the cross-sectional area was also
conducted, to evaluate the load bearing capacities of CFREHS stub col-
umns under eccentric compression in engineering practice. CFREHS
columns with various geometric dimensions were analysed, as
shown in Fig. 9(d). The results suggest that that the eccentric load
bearing capacities of the CFREHS stub columns evidently improved
as the cross-sectional area increased, although the steel ratios were
constant.
In addition, further evidence indicated that the improvement in the
eccentric load bearing capacity of a thin-walled CFREHS stub column
approximately followed a linear trend with respect to the increase in
the cross-sectional area (as shown in Fig. 10).
3.5. Steel strength (fy)
Seamless steel hollow sections with various nominal yield stresses
(i.e., 235, 345, 420, and 550 MPa) were examined to determine the ef-
fect of the material properties on the eccentric compressive perfor-
mance of a CFREHS stub column (as shown in Fig. 9e). The results
revealed that the eccentric load bearing capacity of this novel type of
stub composite column increased with an increase in the steel strength.
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 105

Fig. 9. The effect of various parameters on the eccentric compressive capacity of CFREHS stub column.Note: The character “S” and “C” respectively denote the square and circular CFST
column.
106 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
Fig. 9 (continued).
In the major axis direction, the load bearing capacity of the CFREHS col-
umn with fy equal to 235 MPa decreased by 8.0% compared with that of
the CFREHS column with fy equal to 345 MPa. For the CFREHS stub col-
umns with an fy of 420 MPa and 550 MPa, the load bearing capacities in-
creased by 7.6% and 21.9%, respectively, compared with the CFREHS
stub composite column with an fy of 345 MPa. In the minor axis direc-
tion, the eccentric load bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub column
was 7.6% lower than that of the CFREHS column with an fy of 345 MPa,
while the load bearing capacities of the CFREHS stub columns subjected
to eccentric pressure with fy values of 420 MPa and 550 MPa were 8.3%
and 24.4% higher, respectively, than those of the CFREHS column with a
steel stress of 345 MPa.
3.6. Concrete strength (fcu)
Various concrete strengths (fcu = 30, 50, 80, and 100 MPa) were also
examined. Fig. 9f illustrates the influence of the concrete strength (fcu)
on the behaviour of the CFREHS columns. The experimental results re-
vealed that the eccentric load bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub col-
umn evidently increased with as the concrete strength increased. For
the CFREHS stub column with an fcu of 50 MPa, the eccentric load bear-
ing capacities of the CFREHS column with an fcu of 30 MPa decreased by
23.9% and 22.4% in the major and minor axis, respectively. When fcu was
increased from 50 MPa to 80 and 100 MPa, the eccentric load bearing
capacities increased by 51.8% and 95.2%, respectively, in the major di-
ameter direction. Corresponding improvements of 52.2% and 104.4%
were obtained in the minor direction.
4. Discussion
4.1. Failure patterns
Failure patterns of CFREHS stub columns under eccentric compres-
sion are illustrated in Fig. 11, and these were characterised by the fol-
lowing factors: 1) the outward buckles in the steel tube wall; 2) shear
failure of the concrete infill; and 3) local compression deformation.
Based on the results of the FE analysis, various failure modes of CFREHS
stub columns under eccentric loading were ascribed to the impact of the
load eccentricity ratio, cross-section slenderness, diameter-to-thickness
ratio, and loading direction of the column. The following conclusions are
drawn: 1) Increases in the load eccentricity ratio led to the observation
of shear failures in the concrete infill and outward buckles in the steel
tube at the mid-height of the column. 2) With respect to a CFREHS
stub column loaded in the major axis, steel tube buckling and concrete
crushing were mainly located at the column ends, owing to the strong
bending resistance. Conversely, outward buckles in the steel hollow sec-
tion appeared at the mid-height of the column when the pressure load
was imposed in the minor axis direction. 3) With respect to thin-walled
CFREHS stub columns, a shear surface inclined at approximately 45° was
also observed in the core concrete, owing to the low confinement effect.
Under the condition that the diameter-to-thickness ratio was lower
than 20, local buckling in the steel tube wall of the CFREHS column oc-
curred instead of a concrete infill shear failure. 4) When the cross-sec-
tion slenderness of the CFREHS stub column increased from 1 to 3, the
shear failure location moved gradually from the mid-height of the col-
umn to its bottom or top end, and this may be attributed to the
constrained effect of enervation around the column end.
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 107

Table 2
Parametric analysis of CFREHS stub columns under eccentric compression.

Parameters Specimens Dimensions fy fcu eD eB NFE,D NFE,B SI

B × D × t × L/(mm) (MPa) (MPa) (kN) (kN)

Load eccentricity ratio CFREHS1-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 0 4817.1 4817.1 1.00
CFREHS1-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0.25 0 2899.4 – 0.60
CFREHS1-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0.50 0 2110.2 – 0.44
CFREHS1-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0.75 0 1698.1 – 0.35
CFREHS1-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 1.00 0 1412.2 – 0.29
CFREHS1-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 1.25 0 1074.7 – 0.22
CFREHS1-7 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 1.50 0 1061.5 – 0.22
CFREHS1-8 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 0.25 – 3567.1 0.74
CFREHS1-9 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 0.50 – 2845.3 0.59
CFREHS1-10 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 0.75 – 2483.7 0.52
CFREHS1-11 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 1.00 – 2126.9 0.44
CFREHS1-12 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 1.25 – 1827.8 0.38
CFREHS1-13 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 50 0 1.50 – 1724.6 0.36
Steel strength CFREHS2-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 235 50 0.5 0 1948.8 – 0.47
CFREHS2-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 420 50 0.5 0 2349.9 – 0.45
CFREHS2-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 550 50 0.5 0 2735.3 – 0.44
CFREHS2-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 235 50 0 0.5 – 2670.9 0.64
CFREHS2-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 420 50 0 0.5 – 3110.3 0.59
CFREHS2-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 550 50 0 0.5 – 3528.6 0.58
Concrete strength CFREHS2-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 30 0.5 0 1647.1 – 0.44
CFREHS2-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 80 0.5 0 3229.9 – 0.52
CFREHS2-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 100 0.5 0 4338.8 – 0.60
CFREHS2-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 30 0 0.5 – 2271.4 0.62
CFREHS2-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 80 0 0.5 – 4411.0 0.71
CFREHS2-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 345 100 0 0.5 – 5659.2 0.79
Diameter-to-thickness CFREHS3-1 400 × 200 × 3 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 1983.5 – 0.49
CFREHS3-2 400 × 200 × 8 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 2785.4 – 0.48
CFREHS3-3 400 × 200 × 10 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 3144.1 – 0.46
CFREHS3-4 400 × 200 × 3 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 2618.5 0.63
CFREHS3-5 400 × 200 × 8 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 3546.9 0.62
CFREHS3-6 400 × 200 × 10 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 3987.6 0.60
Cross-section slenderness CCFST4-1 301.6 × 301.6 × 5.4 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 2748.5 2748.5 0.55
RCFST4-2 267.2 × 267.2 × 4.8 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 2595.5 2595.5 0.58
CFREHS4-3 353.6 × 235.7 × 5.3 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 2342.3 – 0.48
CFREHS4-4 441.9 × 176.8 × 4.7 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 2004.5 – 0.43
CFREHS4-5 480.3 × 160.1 × 4.5 × 800 345 50 0.5 0 1956.9 – 0.44
CFREHS4-6 353.6 × 235.7 × 5.3 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 2523.8 0.52
CFREHS4-7 441.9 × 176.8 × 4.7 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 3151.3 0.67
CFREHS4-8 480.3 × 160.1 × 4.5 × 800 345 50 0 0.5 – 3294.3 0.73
Cross- CFREHS5-1 200 × 100 × 2.5 × 400 345 50 0.5 0 548.6 – 0.48
section area CFREHS5-2 300 × 150 × 3.8 × 600 345 50 0.5 0 1223.9 – 0.47
CFREHS5-3 500 × 250 × 6.3 × 1000 345 50 0.5 0 3376.3 – 0.48
CFREHS5-4 200 × 100 × 2.5 × 400 345 50 0 0.5 – 742.6 0.65
CFREHS5-5 300 × 150 × 3.8 × 600 345 50 0 0.5 – 1685.3 0.63
CFREHS5-6 500 × 250 × 6.3 × 1000 345 50 0 0.5 – 4527.6 0.64

Note: NFE,D and NFE,B respectively represent the FE analytical results when the column was loaded in major and minor axis; eD and eB respectively represent the load eccentricity ratio in
major and minor axis.

4.2. Strength index

The strength index (SI) is employed for the purpose of estimating

the eccentric load bearing capacity of a CFREHS stub column, and is de-
fined as follows:

SI ¼ Nue =Nuc ð4Þ

where Nuc and Nue denote the average axial compressive capacity and
average eccentric load bearing capacity, respectively, of the CFREHS
stub column.
Table 2 presents the strength indexes of CFREHS stub columns with
various parameters, including the load eccentricity ratio, cross-section
slenderness, diameter-to-thickness ratio, and material strengths. The
SI of the columns under eccentric compression decreased gradually
with respect to the CFREHS columns subjected to axial pressure with
nominal steel strengths of 235, 345, 420, and 550 MPa. With respect
to the CFREHS stub columns with a 345 MPa nominal steel strength Fig. 10. Effect of cross-sectional area on eccentric compressive capacities of CFREHS
and 50 MPa core concrete, the SI values evidently reduced when the columns.Note: N and A are respectivelytheeccentriccompressive capacityand the cross-
load eccentricity ratio of the CFREHS stub column increased from 0 to sectional area of the CFREHScolumn; N0 and A0 are respectivelythe eccentric
0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50. The SI of the columns exhibited a compressive capacityandthe cross-sectional areaof the column CFREHS1-1.
108 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
Fig. 11. Various failure modes of eccentrically-loaded CFREHS stub column.
general descent as the diameter-to-thickness ratio increased from 40 to
50, 80, and 133.3. With respect to the CFREHS columns at the same steel
ratio, load eccentricity ratio, and cross-sectional area, the SI of the col-
umns in the minor axis gradually decreased with increases in the
cross-section slenderness, while the opposite trend was observed for
the major axis. With respect to the eccentrically-loaded CFREHS stub
column with various concrete strengths, the SI significantly improved
as the concrete strength increased. In addition, it should be noted that
the SI of the column remained constant for increases in the cross-section
area.
4.3. Analysis of typical force-displacement curve
In order to observe the eccentric force (N)-vertical displacement (δ)
laws of CFREHS stub columns with different load eccentricity ratios, typ-
ical force-displacement curves are presented in Fig. 12. Three types of
force–displacement curves were captured in compliance with various
stress–strain responses of the concrete infill and steel tube. With respect
to the CFREHS stub columns loading with a low load eccentricity ratio,
the entire section remained in a state of compression throughout the
loading process (curve ①). For increases in the load eccentricity ratio,
the compressive stress of the steel hollow section gradually decreased
in proportion to the distance from the loading point to 0, and subse-
quently changed to the tensile condition. Finally, the steel tube side
with compressive stress reached its yield stress. However, the tensile
stress did not reach the yield tensile strength of the material (curve
②). While approaching a high load eccentricity ratio, both the steel
tube sides with compressive stress and tensile stress reached their re-
spective yield stresses when the CFREHS stub column withstood its ul-
timate eccentric compressive strength (curve ③). Conversely, the
numerical analysis findings indicated that the descent amplitude of
the curve enhanced by increases in the load eccentricity ratio resulted
in the degeneration of the ductility.
4.4. Analysis of the stress–strain relation
Fig. 13 illustrates the development of the stress–strain law for a
CFREHS stub column under eccentric compression. The longitudinal
and transverse stress–strain responses of the round-ended steel hollow
section in various cross-sections of the column were captured. For the
round-ended elliptical cross-section, the stress–strain responses of the
key points, including the centre point of the straight edge and the end
and centre points of the semi-circle, were individually recorded.
The results indicated that the longitudinal and transverse strains at
the column ends of the CFREHS stub column were essentially symmet-
rical. When the eccentric load was imposed in the minor direction, the
longitudinal strains at the centre point of the semi-circle (point 3)
were significantly lower than those at points 1, 2, and 4. The maximum
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
Fig. 12. Analysis on the N-δ curve of CFREHS column under eccentric compression.
Fig. 13. Stress-strain curves analysis of CFREHS stub column under eccentric loading.
109
tensile stress significantly exceeded the compressive stress. With re-
spect to the transverse strains of the CFREHS stub column loaded in
the minor axis, the strains of the points 1 and 4 at the column ends ex-
hibited high transverse stresses, owing to the strong constraint effect
provided by the end steel plate. With respect to the transverse strains
at the column ends, the strains at the mid-height of the CFREHS column
were significantly higher at the same load level.
For the CFREHS stub column loaded in the major axis, only the mid-
dle points of the semi-circle away from the loading side exhibited ten-
sion, while the other points were in a state of compression. In terms of
the longitudinal stress–strain responses, the tensile stresses at point 4
significantly exceeded those at points 1, 2, and 3. Based on the analysis
results, both points 1 and 2 reached their yield stress, although the
strains of point 3 did not exceed the yield strain. Furthermore, the
stresses at point 1 at the column ends exhibited a sudden decrease,
due to the buckling of the steel hollow section. Correspondingly, high
transverse stresses were also observed at the top and bottom column
ends with respect to point 1. Therefore, we considered welding longitu-
dinal and transverse stiffeners to the inside surface of the thin-walled
steel tube, as proposed by Wang et al. [31, 32]. The transverse strains
of point 4 exhibited compression, while the other points exhibited
110 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
tensile strains. Point 3 exhibited low transverse strains during the load-
ing process adjacent to the neutral axis of the eccentrically-loaded stub
column.
4.5. Contact stress
The contact stress between the concrete infill and the thin-walled
steel hollow section was examined to determine the confinement action
in a CFREHS stub column under eccentric compression (as shown in Fig.
14). The FE analytical observations indicated that the contact stress was
primarily situated in the round ends of the column, while the contact ef-
fect was barely observed at the plate edge of the concrete infill. This is
similar to the conclusion obtained in [19, 26]. The contact stress for
the column with a low load eccentricity was considerably higher than
for that with excessive eccentric compression. With respect to the pres-
sure loaded in the major axis of the CFREHS stub column, the contact
stress in the round ends exhibits a uniform distribution prior to the de-
struction of the core concrete. Conversely, the contact stress in the
Fig. 14. Contact stress between concrete and steel tube (unit: MPa).
compressive side exceeded that in the tensile side when the CFREHS
stub column was loaded in the minor axis.
4.6. Typical M-N curves
For CFREHS stub columns with various load eccentricities, it should
be noted that it is necessary to consider the mutual influence of the
combined compression and uniaxial bending. The design moment
(Mue) that originates from the application of eccentric pressure (Nue)
is described as follows:
Mue ¼ Nue ðe þ Li Þ ð5Þ
where e denotes the load eccentricity of the CFREHS stub column and Li
denotes the initial imperfection of the CFREHS column. For the stub
composite column, Li = 0. With respect to the slender composite col-
umn, Li = L/1000, where L denotes the effective length of the CFREHS
column.
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 111

Thus, the curve associating the uniaxial bending moment with the With respect to the flexural bearing capacity of the CFREHS column,
eccentric force is defined. As strongly indicated by the numerical analy- the empirical formulae are given as follows:
sis results, the resistance of the CFREHS stub column under eccentric
loading is defined by the uniaxial bending moment (M)-eccentric M0 ¼ γm f sc W sc ð8Þ
force (N) curves. In order to determine the design resistance of the
CFREHS column, a calculation model that includes the conditions corre- No ¼ Asc f sc ð9Þ
sponding to B × D × t = 400 × 200 × 5 mm, fy = 345 MPa, and fcu = 50
where γm denotes the section plastic coefficient with γm = 1.06 + 0.48
MPa is presented in this section (as illustrated in Fig. 15).
ln (kξ + 0.1), Wsc denotes the section modulus of the CFREHS column,
and k denotes the confinement adjustment factor. In the major-axis di-
5. Prediction of eccentric compressive capacity
rection k = (B/D)0.3, whereas in the minor-axis direction k = (D/B)1.1.
Furthermore, fsc denotes the unified compressive strength of the
Currently, a calculation approach to estimating the eccentric load
CFREHS stub column and Asc denotes the total sectional area of the
bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub column is not covered in the EC4
CFREHS column.
[33] or GB 50396 [34] specifications, although the design methods for
With respect to the axial load carrying capacity of the CFREHS stub
normal CFST columns are specified. However, the response of a CFREHS
column, simplified calculation approaches are proposed on the basis of
stub column under eccentric compression is similar to those of circular
the simple superposition method and the unified theory. Based on [26,
and rectangular CFST stub columns based on the aforementioned anal-
33] and the analysis in Section 2.2, the axial load carrying capacity of
ysis. Hence, the design for the conventional CFST columns suggested
the CFREHS stub column with respect to the simple superposition
in [23, 34] can also be applied to predict the eccentric load bearing ca-
method is as follows:
pacity of a CFREHS stub column. This is defined as follows:when Ne/
No ≥ 2η0, Nu;1 ¼ Nu;c þ N u;r ð10Þ
h  i
Ne α  βm Me Nu;c ¼ ηa As;c f y þ Ac;c f c 1 þ ηc ðt=DÞ f y =f c ð11Þ
þ ≤1 ð6Þ
No Mo
ηa ¼ 0:25ð3 þ 2λÞ≤1:0 ð12Þ
when Ne/No < 2η0,
ηc ¼ 4:9−18:5λ þ 17λ2 ð13Þ
bN
2
cNe βm Me sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
− 2e − þ ≤1 ð7Þ Npl:Rk
No No Mo λ¼ ð14Þ
Ncr

where α = 1 − 2η0; b = (1 − ζ0)/η20; c = [2(ζ0 − 1)]/η0; η0 Npl:Rk ¼ As;c f y þ Ac;c f c ð15Þ


0:5−0:245ξ ðξ ≤0:4Þ π2 ðEIÞeff
¼ −0:84 ; ζ0 = 0.18ξ−1.15 + 1; η0 and ζ0 denote Ncr ¼ ð16Þ
0:1 þ 0:14ξ ðξ > 0:4Þ ðke LÞ
2

the factors derived from the confinement coefficient of steel-to-con-

crete (ξ); and βm denotes the equivalent moment coefficient. In this
study, βm = 1, Ne denotes the eccentric load, No denotes the axial load
bearing capacity of the CFREHS stub column, Me denotes the uniaxial
bending moment, and Mo denotes the flexural bearing capacity of the
CFREHS column.
Based on the aforementioned formulae, both No and Mo should be
defined prior to calculating the eccentric load bearing capacity and uni-
axial bending moment of a CFREHS stub column under eccentric
compression.
ðEIÞeff ¼ Es Is;c þ Ec I c;c ð17Þ
Nu;r ¼ As;r f y þ 0:85Ac;r f c ð18Þ
where, Nu,1 denotes the predicted axial compressive capacity based on
the definitions in EC4; Nu,c denotes the axial load bearing capacity
of the round-ended part; Nu,r denotes the axial load bearing capacity
of the partially-confined plate part; As,c and Ac,c denote the areas of
the steel hollow section and core concrete for the circular part,

Fig. 15. Moment - eccentric load interaction curve for the CFREHS stub column.
112 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114

Fig. 16. Comparison of eccentric compressive capacities between observed and predicted results.Note: Nu,c1and Nu,c2 respectively represent the predicted results calculated by the simple
superposition approach and the unified theory method; Nt&FE represents the experimental results in Refs. [18,19] and FE analytical results in this paper.

respectively; fc and fy denote the cylinder compressive strength of the
concrete and the yield stress of the steel hollow section, respectively;
ke denotes the effective length, and is set as 0.5 because the ends of
the CFREHS stub column under axial compression are restricted; Es
and Ec denote the elastic modulus of steel hollow section and concrete
infill, respectively, where Es is set as 2,10,000 MPa and Ec is set as
22,000(fc/10)0.3; (EI)eff denotes the effective section stiffness of the
round ends; Is,c and Ic,c denote the section inertia of the steel hollow sec-
tion and the core concrete infill in the semi-circular part, respectively; L
denotes the length of the CFREHS column; λ denotes the relative
slenderness; and As,r and Ac,r denote the steel tube cross-sectional area
and concrete cross-sectional area, respectively, of the rectangular part.
Conversely, based on the unified theory method suggested in [23,
34], which calculates the axial load bearing capacities of the CFST col-
umns using their overall geometric characteristics and composite me-
chanics parameters, a simplified design method to predict the axial
load bearing capacities of CFREHS stub columns is proposed using the
regression fitting approach as follows:
Nu;2 ¼ Asc f sc ð19Þ

Table 3
Comparion between predicted and test results.

Reference Specimens Dimensions Nt Nu,c1 Nu,c2 Nu,c1/Nt Nu,c2/Nt

B × D × t × L/(mm) (kN) (kN) (kN)

Wang et al. [18] RCFST-1 168.5 × 117.0 × 2.86 × 540 925 962.0 897.3 1.04 0.97
RCFST-2 229.0 × 118.0 × 2.86 × 721.9 1215 1215.0 1215.0 1.00 1.00
RCFST-3 349.5 × 116.5 × 2.86 × 1080 1635 1716.8 1831.2 1.05 1.12
RCFST-4 237.5 × 156.5 × 2.86 × 719.6 1658 1591.7 1492.2 0.96 0.90
RCFST-5 317.0 × 158.5 × 2.86 × 962.3 2091 2007.4 2028.3 0.96 0.97
Ding et al. [19] CFT1-A 251 × 251 × 3.70 × 750 3023 2902.1 2539.3 0.96 0.84
CFT1-B 250 × 250 × 3.69 × 750 3265 2873.2 2514.1 0.88 0.77
CFT2-A 251 × 251 × 5.51 × 750 3556 3484.9 3093.7 0.98 0.87
CFT2-B 252 × 252 × 5.74 × 750 3661 3587.8 3185.1 0.98 0.87
WST1-A 299 × 252 × 3.75 × 750 3429 3360.4 3223.3 0.98 0.94
WST1-B 302 × 249 × 3.75 × 750 3338 3371.4 3204.5 1.01 0.96
WST2-A 299 × 255 × 5.84 × 750 4162 4162.0 3829.0 1.00 0.92
WST2-B 300 × 251 × 5.80 × 750 4168 4084.6 3824.6 0.98 0.92
WST3-A 350 × 255 × 3.72 × 900 3929 3771.8 3968.3 0.96 1.01
WST3-B 351 × 252 × 3.76 × 900 4158 3783.8 3991.7 0.91 0.96
WST4-A 352 × 251 × 5.90 × 900 4492 4536.9 4761.5 1.01 1.06
WST4-B 349 × 251 × 5.92 × 900 5530 4534.6 5308.8 0.82 0.96
WST5-A 394 × 260 × 3.79 × 1000 5620 4271.2 5339.0 0.76 0.95
WST5-B 396 × 264 × 3.80 × 1000 5500 4345.0 5390.0 0.79 0.98
WST6-A 405 × 197 × 3.75 × 800 3240 3499.2 3304.8 1.08 1.02
WST6-B 302 × 196 × 3.72 × 800 2993 3442.0 3262.4 1.15 1.09
WST7-A 608 × 186 × 3.75 × 1200 4826 4681.2 4777.7 0.97 0.99
WST7-B 605 × 194 × 3.77 × 1200 4944 4845.1 4894.6 0.98 0.99
WST8-A 805 × 190 × 3.74 × 1600 6521 6129.7 6390.6 0.94 0.98
WST8-B 806 × 191 × 3.67 × 1600 6493 6103.4 6363.1 0.94 0.98
WST9-A 405 × 198 × 3.75 × 800 4023 3500.0 4143.7 0.87 1.03
WST9-B 405 × 198 × 3.70 × 1000 4180 3511.2 4305.4 0.84 1.03
WST10-A 610 × 196 × 3.80 × 1200 7201 4896.7 6552.9 0.68 0.91
WST10-B 606 × 189 × 3.77 × 1200 6905 4764.5 6352.6 0.69 0.92
WST11-A 805 × 190 × 3.68 × 1600 9065 6073.6 8430.5 0.67 0.93
WST11-B 805 × 194 × 3.80 × 1600 8799 6247.3 8623.0 0.71 0.98

Note: Nt is the ultimate axial compressive capacities of tests in Refs. [18, 19]; NFE represents the FE analytical results; Nu,c1 and Nu,c2 are the predicted results provided by the simple su-
perposition approach and the unified theory method, respectively.
 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114 113

Table 4
Comparion between predicted and FE analytical results.

Specimens Dimensions NFE,D/kN Nu,c1(kN) Nu,c2(kN) Nu,c1/NFE Nu,c2/NFE

B × D × t × L/(mm) (NFE,B/kN)

CFREHS1-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 4817.1 4479.9 4431.7 0.93 0.92

CFREHS1-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 2899.4 2870.6 2847.5 0.99 0.98
CFREHS1-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 2110.2 2110.2 2097.6 1.00 0.99
CFREHS1-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1698.1 1668.2 1660.4 0.98 0.98
CFREHS1-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1412.2 1379.4 1374.0 0.98 0.97
CFREHS1-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1261.5 1175.8 1171.9 0.93 0.93
CFREHS1-7 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1074.7 1024.5 1021.6 0.95 0.95
CFREHS1-8 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (3567.1) 3482.6 3448.7 0.98 0.97
CFREHS1-9 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (2845.3) 2845.3 2822.6 1.00 0.99
CFREHS1-10 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (2483.7) 2405.1 2388.9 0.97 0.96
CFREHS1-11 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (2126.9) 2082.9 2070.7 0.98 0.97
CFREHS1-12 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (1827.8) 1836.8 1827.4 1.00 1.00
CFREHS1-13 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (1724.6) 1642.8 1635.2 0.95 0.95
CFREHS2-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1948.8 1948.8 1965.6 1.00 1.01
CFREHS2-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 2349.9 2286.1 2258.8 0.97 0.96
CFREHS2-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 2735.3 2626.7 2566.9 0.96 0.94
CFREHS2-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (2670.9) 2617.3 2647.8 0.98 0.99
CFREHS2-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (3110.3) 3060.9 3012.2 0.98 0.97
CFREHS2-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (3528.6) 3469.1 3365.5 0.98 0.95
CFREHS2-1 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 1647.1 1637.7 1575.3 0.99 0.96
CFREHS2-2 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 3229.9 3211.4 3165.4 0.99 0.98
CFREHS2-3 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 4338.8 4314.0 4285.9 0.99 0.99
CFREHS2-4 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (2271.4) 2166.3 2058.6 0.95 0.91
CFREHS2-5 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (4411.0) 4320.6 4237.6 0.98 0.96
CFREHS2-6 400 × 200 × 5 × 800 (5659.2) 5555.2 5508.7 0.98 0.97
CFREHS3-1 400 × 200 × 3 × 800 1983.5 2001.2 2006.1 1.01 1.01
CFREHS3-2 400 × 200 × 8 × 800 2785.4 2639.9 2622.8 0.95 0.94
CFREHS3-3 400 × 200 × 10 × 800 3144.1 3041.2 3042.2 0.97 0.97
CFREHS3-4 400 × 200 × 3 × 800 (2618.5) 2658.7 2667.3 1.02 1.02
CFREHS3-5 400 × 200 × 8 × 800 (3546.9) 3459.1 3429.9 0.98 0.97
CFREHS3-6 400 × 200 × 10 × 800 (3987.6) 3914.0 3915.8 0.98 0.98
CCFST4-1 301.6 × 301.6 × 5.4 × 800 2748.5 2515.9 2301.3 0.92 0.84
RCFST4-2 267.2 × 267.2 × 4.8 × 800 2595.5 – – – –
CFREHS4-3 353.6 × 235.7 × 5.3 × 800 2342.3 2302.5 2230.5 0.98 0.95
CFREHS4-4 441.9 × 176.8 × 4.7 × 800 2004.5 1952.0 1964.4 0.97 0.98
CFREHS4-5 480.3 × 160.1 × 4.5 × 800 1956.9 1828.7 1861.9 0.93 0.95
CFREHS4-6 353.6 × 235.7 × 5.3 × 800 (2523.8) 2444.7 2363.7 0.97 0.94
CFREHS4-7 441.9 × 176.8 × 4.7 × 800 (3151.3) 3047.8 3078.1 0.97 0.98
CFREHS4-8 480.3 × 160.1 × 4.5 × 800 (3294.3) 3165.8 3266.5 0.96 0.99
CFREHS5-1 200 × 100 × 2.5 × 400 548.6 527.5 522.6 0.96 0.95
CFREHS5-2 300 × 150 × 3.8 × 600 1223.9 1192.4 1184.8 0.97 0.97
CFREHS5-3 500 × 250 × 6.3 × 1000 3376.3 3306.2 3278.6 0.98 0.97
CFREHS5-4 200 × 100 × 2.5 × 400 (742.6) 711.3 702.4 0.96 0.95
CFREHS5-5 300 × 150 × 3.8 × 600 (1685.3) 1607.0 1593.1 0.95 0.95
CFREHS5-6 500 × 250 × 6.3 × 1000 (4527.6) 4456.6 4406.5 0.98 0.97

Note: NFE,D and NFE,B respectively represent the FE analytical results of the columns loaded in minor and major axis.

6. Conclusions

½1:14 þ 0:27ξ þ 0:75ðB=DÞξ f ck 1≤ ðB=DÞ≤1:44
f sc ¼ ð20Þ Based on the analytical results in the study, the following findings
ð1:18 þ 0:85ξÞf ck 1:44 < ðB=DÞ≤4
are obtained:

(1) The nonlinear FE model built by ABAQUS software in combina-

where Nu,2 denotes the predicted axial load bearing capacity based on
tion with the equivalent stress-strain model for the core concrete
the GB 50396 specification [34]. Moreover, in accordance with the
considering a round-ended ellipse feature can be used to predict
scope of experimental [18, 19, 30] and numerical analyses, Eqs. (6)-
the eccentric compressive performance of CFREHS stub columns.
(20) were fit for eccentrically-loaded CFREHS stub columns. Namely,
However, further efforts are required to determine their actual
the concrete compressive strength ranged from 30 MPa to 100 MPa,
stress–strain models and to discuss the influence of various
the steel yield strength ranged from 235 MPa to 550 MPa, the cross-sec-
imperfections.
tional area ranged from 200 × 100 mm to 500 × 250 mm, the diameter-
(2) The numerical analysis of the performance of CFREHS stub col-
to-thickness ratio ranged from 40 to 133.3, the load eccentricity ratio
umn under eccentric pressure indicates that the major failure
ranged from 0 to 1.5, and the cross-section slenderness ranged from 1
modes of these types of eccentrically-loaded stub composite col-
to 4.
umns include steel tube local buckling, core concrete shear fail-
Based on the formulae proposed in this section, the experimental
ure, and local compression deformation. Furthermore, it should
and numerical analysis data were compared with the predicted results
be emphasized that various failure patterns of the CFREHS stub
in shown Fig. 16 and Tables 3 and 4. The results indicated that the pre-
columns are correlated to the load eccentricity ratio, loading di-
dicted eccentric compressive capacities exhibited a good agreement
rection, cross-section slenderness, and diameter-to-thickness
with those in the experiments and FE models. Therefore, the simplified
ratio.
empirical formulae can be employed to predict the eccentric load bear-
(3) Based on the parametric analysis, the eccentric load bearing ca-
ing capacity of a CFREHS column with suitable precision.
pacity of CFREHS stub column evidently raised with increases
114 Q. Shen et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 150 (2018) 99–114
in material strength and cross-sectional area, while the opposite
observation was obtained with increases in load eccentricity
ratio and diameter-to-thickness ratio. With increases in the
cross-section slenderness, the eccentric load bearing capacities
of CFREHS stub columns decrease in minor-axis direction al-
though it increases in major-axis direction.
(4) The strength index of the CFREHS stub column subject to an ec-
centric load increased with increases in the concrete strength
while it reduced with increases in the load eccentricity ratio,
steel strength, and diameter-to-thickness ratio.
(5) Simplified empirical formulae on the basis of the simple superpo-
sition approach and the unified theory method are proposed to
calculate the eccentric load bearing capacities of CFREHS stub
columns and verified by the experimental and numerical results.
The proposed design method potentially provides an effective
approach for designing CFREHS columns in CFST structures.
Acknowledgments
The study was supported by the National Natural Science Founda-
tion of China (Project 51478158) and the New Century Excellent Talents
in University (Project NCET-12-0838), and the authors express their
sincere appreciation for the same. The authors acknowledge the support
of Dr. Lei Guo and Jiaxin Wang from Hefei University of Technology.
References
[1] J.F. Wang, X.B. Pan, X. Peng, Pseudo-dynamic tests of assembly blind bolted compos-
ite frames to CFST columns, J. Constr. Steel Res. 139 (2017) 83–100.
[2] D.X. Li, B. Uy, F. Aslani, V. Patel, Behaviour and design of demountable CFST column-
column connections under tension, J. Constr. Steel Res. 138 (2017) 761–773.
[3] M.F. Hassanein, V.I. Patel, M. Elchalakani, H.T. Thai, Finite element analysis of large
diameter high strength octagonal CFST short columns, Thin-Walled Struct. 123
(2018) 467–482.
[4] F.Q. Liu, Y.Y. Wang, T.M. Chan, Behaviour of concrete-filled cold-formed elliptical
hollow sections with varying aspect ratios, Thin-Walled Struct. 110 (2017) 47–61.
[5] F.Q. Liu, H. Yang, L. Gardner, Post-fire behavior of eccentrically loaded reinforced
concrete columns confined by circular steel tubes, J. Constr. Steel Res. 122 (2016)
495–510.
[6] C. Petrus, H.A. Hamid, A. Ibrahim, G. Parke, Experimental behaviour of concrete filled
thin walled steel tubes with tab stiffeners, J. Constr. Steel Res. 66 (7) (2010)
915–922.
[7] Q.X. Ren, L.H. Han, C. Hou, Z. Tao, S. Li, Concrete-encased CFST columns under com-
bined compression and torsion: experimental investigation, J. Constr. Steel Res. 138
(2017) 729–741.
[8] Q.X. Ren, L.H. Han, C. Hou, Y.X. Hua, Experimental behaviour of tapered CFST col-
umns under combined compression and bending, J. Constr. Steel Res. 128 (2017)
39–52.
[9] Z.B. Wang, Q. Yu, Z. Tao, Behaviour of CFRP externally-reinforced circular CFST
members under combined tension and bending, J. Constr. Steel Res. 106 (2015)
122–137.
[10] J.F. Wang, N. Zhang, Performance of circular CFST column to steel beam joints with
blind bolts, J. Constr. Steel Res. 130 (2017) 36–52.
[11] F.X. Ding, L. Fu, Z.W. Yu, Pseudo-static tests of terminal stirrup-confined concrete-
filled rectangular steel tubular columns, J. Constr. Steel Res. 144 (2018) 135–152.
[12] P. Thayalan, T. Aly, I. Patnaikuni, Behaviour of concrete-filled steel tube sunder static
and variable repeated loading, J. Constr. Steel Res. 65 (4) (2009) 900–908.
[13] J.S. Huo, X. Zeng, Y. Xiao, Cyclic behaviours of concrete-filled steel tubular columns
with pre-load after exposure to fire, J. Constr. Steel Res. 67 (2011) 727–739.
[14] F. Aslani, B. Uy, J. Hur, P. Carino, Behaviour and design of hollow and concrete-filled
spiral welded steel tube columns subjected to axial compression, J. Constr. Steel Res.
128 (2017) 261–288.
[15] F. Aslani, B. Uy, Z. Tao, F. Mashiri, Behaviour and design of composite columns incor-
porating compact high-strength steel plates, J. Constr. Steel Res. 107 (2015) 94–110.
[16] F.Y. Liao, L.H. Han, Z. Tao, Seismic behaviour of circular CFST columns and RC shear
wall mixed structures: experiments, J. Constr. Steel Res. 65 (8–9) (2009)
1582–1596.
[17] F.Y. Liao, L.H. Han, Z. Tao, Behaviour of composite joints with concrete encased CFST
columns under cyclic loading: experiments, Eng. Struct. 59 (2014) 745–764.
[18] F.X. Ding, L. Fu, Z.W. Yu, G. Li, Mechanical performance of concrete-filled steel tubu-
lar stub columns with round ends under axial loading, Thin-Walled Struct. 97
(2015) 22–34.
[19] Z.B. Wang, J. Chen, E.P. Xie, S. Lin, Behaviour of concrete-filled round-end steel tubu-
lar stub columns under axial compression, J. Build. Struct. 35 (7) (2014) 123–130.
[20] M.F. Hassanein, V.I. Patel, Round-ended rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular
short columns: FE investigation under axial compression, J. Constr. Steel Res. 140
(2018) 222–236.
[21] L.H. Han, Q.X. Ren, W. Li, Tests on stub stainless steel-concrete-carbon steel double-
skin tubular (DST) columns, J. Constr. Steel Res. 67 (3) (2011) 437–452.
[22] J.X. Xie, Z.A. Lu, P. Tang, et al., Modal analysis and experimental study on round-
ended CFST coupled column cable-stayed bridge, Proceedings of the Second Inter-
national Conference on Mechanic Automation and Control Engineering
(MACE2011), Inner Mongolia, China, 6, 2011, pp. 15–17.
[23] L.H. Han, Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Structures—Theory and Practice, 3rd ed. Sci-
ence Press, Beijing, 2016 (in Chinese).
[24] X.L. Zhao, J.A. Packer, Tests and design of concrete-filled elliptical hollow section
stub columns, Thin-Walled Struct. 47 (2009) 617–628.
[25] A.M. Ruiz-Teran, L. Gardner, Elastic buckling of elliptical tubes, Thin-Walled Struct.
46 (11) (2008) 1304–1318.
[26] J.F. Wang, Q.H. Shen, Numerical analysis and design of thin-walled RECFST stub col-
umns under axial compression, Thin-Walled Struct. 120 (2018) 166–182.
[27] ACI 318-02, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete and Commentary,
Farmington Hills, American Concrete Institute, MI, USA, 2002.
[28] X. Dai, D. Lam, Numerical modeling of the axial compressive behaviour of short con-
crete-filled elliptical steel columns, J. Constr. Steel Res. 66 (7) (2010) 931–942.
[29] J.F. Wang, Q.H. Shen, H. Jiang, X.B. Pan, Analysis and design of elliptical concrete-
filled thin-walled steel stub columns under axial compression, Int. J. Steel Struct.
DOI. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0002-5.
[30] X.P. Guan, Research on Eccentric Compression Test about Concrete Filled Steel Tube
of Round Tip Shape, Wuhan University of Technology, 2013 (in Chinese).
[31] Z.B. Wang, Z. Tao, Q. Yu, Axial compressive behaviour of concrete-filled double-tube
stub columns with stiffeners, Thin-Walled Struct. 120 (11) (2017) 91–104.
[32] Z.B. Wang, Z. Tao, L.H. Han, B. Uy, D. Lam, W.H. Kang, Strength, stiffness and ductility
of concrete-filled steel columns under axial compression, Eng. Struct. 135 (2017)
209–221.
[33] Eurocode 4: Design of composite steel and concrete structures-Part 1-1: General
rules and rules for buildings.1994-1-1:2004. , CEN, Brussels, 2004.
[34] GB 50396-2014, Technical Code for Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Structures, Archi-
tecture Industrial Press of China, Beijing, 2014 (in Chinese).