Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

www.elsevier.com/locate/tws

Concrete-lled double skin (SHS outer and

CHS inner) steel tubular beam-columns
Lin-Hai Han a,
, Zhong Tao a, Hong Huang a, Xiao-Ling Zhao b
a

College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Fuzhou University, Gongye Road 523, Fuzhou,
Fujian Province 350002, Peoples Republic of China
b
Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia

Received 26 June 2003; received in revised form 13 February 2004; accepted 13 February 2004

Abstract
A series of tests on concrete-lled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns (14),
beams (four) and beam-columns (12) were carried out. The specimens had square hollow
section (SHS) as outer skin and circular hollow section (CHS) as inner skin. A mechanics
model is developed in this paper for the CFDST stub columns, columns and beam-columns.
A unied theory is described where a connement factor (n) is introduced to describe the
composite action between the steel tubes and the sandwiched concrete. The load versus axial
strain relationship for CFDST stub columns is predicted. Simplied model is derived for section capacities of CFDST. The predicted beam-column strength is compared with that
obtained in beam and beam-column tests. The load versus mid-span deection relationship
for CFDST beams and beam-columns is predicted. A simplied model is developed for calculating the member capacity of the CFDST beams. Simplied interaction curves are derived
for CFDST beam-columns.
# 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Concrete-lled; Beams; Columns; Beam-columns; Design; Hollow sections; Double-skin;
Mechanics model

1. Introduction
1.1. Background
Double skin composite construction was originally used in submerged tube
tunnels for pressure vessels [15], which consisted of an inner and outer steel skin

Corresponding author. Tel.: +86-591-789-2459; fax: +86-591-373-7442.

E-mail address: hanlinhai@fzu.edu.cn (L.-H. Han).

0263-8231/$ - see front matter # 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tws.2004.03.017

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Nomenclature
Ac
concrete cross-sectional area
Ac,nominal nominal cross-sectional area of concrete, given by B2  Aso
Asc
cross-sectional area of the composite section, given by Aso Ac Asi
Asco
cross-sectional area of the outer steel tube and the sandwiched
concrete, given by Aso Ac
Asi
cross-sectional area of the inner steel tube
Aso
cross-sectional area of the outer steel tube
B
outer width of square tube
CFDST concrete-lled double skin steel tube
CFST concrete-lled steel tube
D
outer diameter of the inner circular tube
e
load eccentricity
e=r
load eccentricity ratios, r can be given by B=2
Ec
concrete modulus of elasticity
Es
steel modulus of elasticity
fsyo
yield strength of the outer steel tube
fsyi
yield strength of the inner steel tube
fcu
characteristic 28-day concrete cube strength
fck
characteristic concrete strength (fck 0:67fcu for normal strength
concrete)
p
i
radius of gyration of CFDST, given by Isc =Asco
moment of inertia for CFDST cross-section
Isc
L
eective buckling length of column in the plane of bending
Mu
ultimate strength of CFDST beams
Muc,mm predicted moment capacity using mechanics model
Muc,sm predicted moment capacity using simplied model
Mue
maximum test moment
Mi,u
moment capacity of the inner tube
Mosu,u moment capacity of the outer steel tube lled with concrete
Nu
ultimate strength of the composite columns
Nuc,mm predicted ultimate strength using mechanics model
Nuc,sm predicted ultimate strength using simplied model
Ni,u
compressive capacity of the inner tube
Nosu,u compressive capacity of the outer steel tube lled with concrete
Nue
experimental ultimate strength
tso
wall thickness of the outer steel tube
tsi
wall thickness of the inner steel tube
Wscm section modulus of the outer steel tube and the sandwiched concrete,
given by B3 =6  pD4 =32B
Wsi
plastic section modulus of the inner tube
v
hollow ratio, given by D=B

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

r
e
/
k
n

1331

stress
strain
curvature
slenderness ratios, given by L=i
connement factor ( Aso  fsyo =Ac;nominal  fck )

with the annulus between the skins lled with concrete. This type of sandwich
cross-section was shown to have high bending stiness that avoids instability under
external pressure.
In recent years, a similar concept called concrete-lled double skin tubes
(CFDST) was developed, and reported by Wei et al. [6,7], Nakanishi et al. [8],
Yagishita et al. [9], Lin and Tsai [10], Elchalakani et al. [11], Zhao and Grzebieta
[12], and Zhao et al. [1315]. Similar to fully concrete-lled steel tubes (CFST),
advantages of CFDST include: increased section modulus; enhanced global stability; lighter weight; utilization of the space in the inner tube if necessary, good
damping characteristics and good cyclic performance. CFDST columns may have
reasonable re resistance period because that the inner tubes are protected by the
sandwiched concrete under a re. Recently, CFDST have been used as high-rise
bridge piers in Japan [9] to reduce the structure self-weight, while maintaining a
large energy absorption capacity against earthquake loading. There may be a
potential for CFDST to be used in building structures, as observed for concretelled steel tubes (CFST) in the past few decades [16]. Therefore, there is a need
to study the behavior of CFDST stub columns, columns and beam-columns.
The research conducted so far on CFDST is summarized in Table 1 where references are listed. It can be seen that there are four combinations of square hollow
section (SHS) and circular hollow section (CHS) as outer and inner tubes. This
paper focuses on CFDST with SHS as outer skin and CHS as inner skin. Only

Table 1
Summary of research Conducted on CFDST
Combinations

CHS outer and CHS

inner
SHS outer and SHS
inner
CHS outer and SHS
inner
SHS outer and CHS
inner

Member types
Stub columns

Beams

Columns

Beam-columns

Wei et al. [6,7],

Lin and Tsai [10]
Zhao and Grzebieta
[12], Zhao et al. [13,14]
Elchalakani et al. [11]

Lin and Tsai [10]

Yagishita et al. [9]

Zhao and
Grzebieta [12]

This paper

This paper

This paper

Zhao et al. [13], this

paper

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

some stub column tests were reported on this combination in the past [15] where
cold-formed SHS and CHS were used. The contribution of this paper can be summarized as follows:
1. More realistic sizes of SHS and CHS are used. The tube sizes used in the current
study are up to about three times that used by Zhao et al. [15].
2. The ratio of the inner tube diameter (D) to the outer tube width (B) varies from
0 to 0.75 compared with that ranging from 0.49 to 0.60 by Zhao et al. [15].
3. Beams, columns and beam-columns are tested in the current study.
4. Mechanics models and simplied models are developed for stub columns,
beams, columns and beam-columns.
1.2. This paper
Tests on 14 CFDST stub columns, four CFDST beams and 12 CFDST beamcolumns were carried out. The main parameters varied in the testing program are:
(1) hollow section ratio (v D=B) from 0 to 0.75, where D is the inner tube diameter and B is the outer tube width; (2) outer tube width to thickness ratio from 40
to 100; (3) column slenderness (k), from 29 to 58; and (4) load eccentricity (e), from
15 to 80 mm, for beam-columns.
Mechanics models were developed to predict the behavior of CFDST stub
columns, beams, columns and beam-columns. The unied theory [17] was adopted
in the derivation, where a connement factor (n) was introduced to describe the
composite action between the steel tube and the sandwiched concrete. The load
versus axial strain relationship is established for concrete-lled SHS stub columns.
The load versus mid-span deection relationship is established for CFDST beams
and beam-columns. Simplied models were developed to estimate the strength of
CFDST stub columns, beams, columns and beam-columns. All predictions were
compared with test results with reasonable agreement achieved.

2. Experimental investigations
2.1. Materials and specimen preparation
A series of tests on concrete-lled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns, beams and beam-columns were carried out. The experimental study was not
only to determine the maximum load capacity of the specimens, but also to investigate the failure modes up to and beyond the ultimate load.
A schematic view of the cross-section is shown in Fig. 1 where the outer skin is a
square box and the inner skin is a CHS. The tubes were all manufactured from
mild steel sheet. Four sheet plates were cut, tack welded into a square shape and
then welded with a single bevel butt weld along the corners to form the outer tube.
One sheet plate was cut, rolled to a circular shape and then welded with a single
bevel butt weld. A 25 mm thick plate was welded to one end of each specimen.

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1333

Fig. 1. Column specimen details and dimensions (schematic view).

Standard tensile coupon tests were conducted to measure material properties of

the steel sheet. Three coupons were taken from each steel sheet used for manufacturing specimens. The average yield stress of the outer tube (fsyo), and that of the
inner tube (fsyi) for each specimen is listed in Tables 24. The modulus of elasticity
of the outer and the inner tubes were found to be approximately 200,000 MPa.
One type of concrete, with a nominal compressive cube strength (fcu) at 28 days
of 40 MPa, was designed. The mix proportions of the concrete were as follows:

Cement: 528 kg/m3

Water: 201 kg/m3
Sand: 585 kg/m3
Coarse aggregate: 1086 kg/m3.

For each batch of concrete mixed, three 150 mm cubes were also cast and cured
in conditions similar to the related specimens. The average cube strength at the
time of testing was 46.8 MPa. The modulus of elasticity (Ec) of concrete was found
to be 33,300 MPa.
The concrete was lled in the annulus between the outer and inner skins. The
specimens were vibrated by poker vibrator. They were placed upright to air-dry
until testing. During curing, a very small amount of longitudinal shrinkage of
0.60.8 mm or so occurred at the top of the columns. A high-strength epoxy was
used to ll this longitudinal gap so that the concrete surface was ush with the
steel tube at the top. Prior to testing, this surface was ground smooth and at

Specimen
label

scc1-1
scc1-2
scc2-1
scc2-2
scc3-1
scc3-2
scc4-1
scc4-2
scc5-1
scc5-2
scc6-1
scc6-2
scc7-1
scc7-2
Empty tube

No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Mean
COV

Inner tube
dimension
D  tsi (mm)

U32  3
U32  3
U58  3
U58  3
U88  3
U88  3
U88  3
U88  3
U114  3
U114  3
U165  3
U165  3

Outer tube
dimension
B  tso (mm)

&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-180  3
&-180  3
&-240  3
&-240  3
&-300  3
&-300  3
&-120  3
0
0
0.27
0.27
0.48
0.48
0.75
0.75
0.49
0.49
0.48
0.48
0.50
0.50

Table 2
Specimen labels, material properties and section capacities (stub columns)

360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
540
540
720
720
900
900
360

L
(mm)
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9

fsyo
(MPa)

422.3
422.3
374.5
374.5
370.2
370.2
370.2
370.2
294.5
294.5
320.5
320.5

fsyi
(MPa)
982
990
1054
1060
990
1000
870
996
1725
1710
2580
2460
3240
3430
376

Nue
(kN)
882
882
967
967
976
976
947
947
1785
1785
2756
2756
3855
3855

Nuc,mm
(kN)

0.898
0.891
0.917
0.912
0.986
0.976
1.089
0.951
1.035
1.044
1.068
1.120
1.190
1.124

1.014
0.009

Nuc;mm =Nue

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Specimen
label

scb1
scb2
scb3
scb4
Empty tube

No.

1
2
3
4
5
Mean
COV

Inner tube
dimension
D  tsi (mm)

U32  3
U58  3
U88  3

Outer tube
dimension
B  tso (mm)

&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3

Table 3
Specimen labels, material properties and section capacities (beams)

0
0.27
0.48
0.73

1400
1400
1400
1400
1400

L
(mm)
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9

fsyo
(MPa)

422.3
374.5
370.2

fsyi
(MPa)
24.37
25.87
26.90
28.98
17.44

Mue
(kN)

19.79
22.46
25.87
33.49

Muc,mm
(kN)

0.812
0.868
0.962
1.156

0.950
0.023

Muc;mm =Mue

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1335

Specimen
label

scbc1-1
scbc1-2
scbc2-1
scbc2-2
scbc3-1
scbc3-2
scbc4-1
scbc4-2
scbc5-1
scbc5-2
scbc6-1
scbc6-2

No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Mean
COV

Inner tube
dimension
D  tsi (mm)

U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3
U58  3

Outer tube
dimension
B  tso (mm)

&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
&-120  3
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48

1070
1070
1070
1070
1070
1070
2136
2136
2136
2136
2136
2136

L
(mm)
29
29
29
29
29
29
58
58
58
58
58
58

275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9
275.9

fsyo
(MPa)

Table 4
Specimen labels, material properties and member capacities (columns and beam-columns)

374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5
374.5

fsyi
(MPa)
4
4
14
14
45
45
0
0
15.5
15.5
45
45

e
(mm)
856
872
667
750
480
486
920
868
596
570
380
379

Nue
(kN)

912.
912
755
755
483
483
860
860
602
602
389
389

Nuc,mm
(kN)

1.065
1.046
1.132
1.007
1.006
0.994
0.935
0.991
1.010
1.056
1.024
1.026
1.024
0.002

Nuc;mm =Nue

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1337

using a grinding wheel with diamond cutters. This was to ensure that the load
was applied evenly across the cross-section and simultaneously to the steel and
concrete.
2.2. Stub column tests
A total of 12 stub columns were tested. A summary of the specimens is presented
in Table 2, where the section sizes, material properties and hollow ratio (v) are
given. The length of stub columns (L) was chosen to be three times the width of
outer SHS sections to avoid the eects of overall buckling and end conditions [17].
All the tests were performed on a 5000 kN capacity testing machine. The specimens were sitting on the machine base plate. The load was applied through a loading ram. Eight strain gauges were mounted on each specimen to measure strains at
the middle height, two on each at face of the outer tube. Four strain gauges were
placed along the direction of loading while the other four were placed perpendicular to the loading direction. Two displacement transducers were used to measure
the axial deformation. A load interval of less than one-tenth of the estimated load
capacity was used. Each load interval level was maintained for about 2 min.
Typical failure mode of the outer tube was local (outward folding) failure mechanism. This is the same as that observed by Zhao et al. [15] for CFDST with SHS
outer and CHS inner. This failure mode is also similar to that observed for concrete-lled steel tubes (CFST) by many other researchers, such as Ge and Usami
[18], Han et al. [17], OShea and Bridge [19], and Song and Kwon [20], just to list a
few. The typical failure mode is shown in Fig. 2(a). The failure mode of the inner
CHS behaves dierently from that for empty CHS in compression where an
elephant foot occurs. The failure mode shown in Fig. 2(b) is very much the same
as that observed for the inner CHS tube of CFDST [13,14]. One test on empty
outer tube was also carried out for comparison purpose. The details are listed in
Table 2.
Load versus axial strain curves are shown in Fig. 3. The maximum loads (Nue)
obtained in the test are summarized in Table 2. It can be found from Fig. 3(d) that
the ultimate strength and the ductility of CFDST stub columns are much larger
than those of the empty stub columns.
2.3. Beam tests
Four CFDST beam specimens with dierent hollow ratio (v) were tested in the
same machine that was used for the stub column tests. The specimens were labeled
as shown in Table 3.
A four-point bending rig was used to apply the moment similar to that described
by Zhao and Grzebieta [12]. The mid-span deection was measured using a displacement transducer. The strains in the outer tube were measured at mid-span of
the beam by strain gauges on both top and bottom surfaces.
Failure modes of the current tested beams were very similar to those described
by Zhao and Grzebieta [12] for CFDST (SHS outer and SHS inner) beams. No

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 2. Typical failure mode of the of CFDST stub columns. (a) Specimen after testing and (b) inner
tube.

tensile fracture was observed on the tension ange. The failure modes of inner concrete and inner tubes are shown in Fig. 4(a) and (b), respectively.
One empty beam with the same tube dimension as the outer tube was also carried out for comparison purposes. The details of the specimen were listed in
Table 3.
The bending moment is plotted in Fig. 5 against the compressive and tensile
strains of the extreme ber at mid-span. The bending moment versus mid-span
deection curves are given in Fig. 6. The maximum experimental moment (Mue) is
listed in Table 3. It can be found from Table 3 and Fig. 6(a) that both the ultimate
strength and the ductility of CFDST beams are much larger than those of the
empty tube beam.
2.4. Beam-column tests
Fourteen tests on composite columns and beam-columns were carried out. A
summary of the specimens is presented in Table 4 where the section sizes, slenderness ratios (k), load eccentricities (e), and sectional hollow ratio (v) are given. The
load eccentricity (e) ranges are from 0 to 45 mm. The slenderness ratio (k) ranges

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 3. Load versus axial strain curves.

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 4. Typical failure modes of the of CFDST beams. (a) Sandwiched concrete and (b) inner tube.

are from 29 to 58. The value of slenderness ratio (k) is dened as

k

L
;
i

where L is the eective length of a column, whichpis

the same as the physical length
of the column (L) with pin-ended supports. i Isc =Asco , is the section radius of
gyration, Isc and Asco are the moment of inertia and area of CFDST composite
cross-section, respectively.
The desired eccentricity was achieved by accurately machining grooves that are
6 mm deep into the sti endplate that was welded to the steel tubes. For the concentrically loaded column, the groove was in the middle of the plate. The endplate
was considered very sti with a thickness of 30 mm. The axial load was applied
through a very sti top platen with an oset triangle hinge, which also allowed
specimen rotation to simulate pin-ended supports. Both the endplate and the top
platen were made of very hard and very high-strength steel. Eight strain gauges
were used for each specimen to measure the longitudinal and transverse strains at
the middle height. Two displacement transducers were used to measure the axial
deformation. Five transducers were used to measure the lateral deection. Fig. 7
gives a general view of the test arrangement.
A load interval of less than one-tenth of the estimated load capacity was used.
Each load interval was maintained for about 2 min. At each load increment, the

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 5. Moment versus extreme bre strains at mid-span of beam specimens.

Fig. 6. Load versus mid-span deection of beam specimens (a) scb1; (b) scb2; (c) scb3; (d) scb4.

1341

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 7. A general view of beam-column test.

strain readings and the deection measurements were recorded. All specimens were
loaded to failure. Each test took approximately 30 min to reach the maximum load
and 1.5 h to complete. All the test specimens behaved in a relatively ductile manner
and testing proceeded in a smooth and controlled way.
Typical failure mode was overall buckling failure. When the load was small, the
lateral deection at middle height is small and approximately proportional to the
applied load. When the load reached about 6070% of the maximum load, the
lateral deection at middle height started to increase signicantly. Specimen
no. scbc5-1 is selected to illustrate the lateral deection in the middle-span of the
composite beam-column with dierent axial loads (N), as shown in Fig. 8, where
the ratio of n is given by N=Nue .
The axial load (N) versus extreme ber strain curves are shown in Fig. 9. The
load (N) versus mid-height deection (um) curves for the composite columns are
presented in Fig. 10. The maximum loads (Nue) obtained in the test are summarized in Table 4.

3. Mechanics models
3.1. Mechanics model for stub columns
Mechanics models were developed by Han et al. [17] for concrete-lled SHSs.
Stress versus strain relations were given in Han et al. [17] for steel tubes and con-

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1343

Fig. 8. Mid-span lateral deection along the column at dierent load level (scbc5-1).

ned concrete. In this paper, the same stressstrain relations were adopted for steel
tubes and concrete in the analysis.
A typical stressstrain curve for steel consists of ve stages as shown in Fig. 11.
Detailed expressions were given in Han et al. [17].
It is assumed that the inner tube can restrict the inner indentation of the concrete core, so the sandwiched concrete in the annulus was conned in the same way
as that in a fully in-lled steel tube. A typical stressstrain curve for the conned
concrete with fck 41 MPa is shown in Fig. 12, where the connement factor (n) is
dened as
n

Aso  fsyo
;
Ac;nominal  fck

in which Aso is the cross-section area of the outer steel tube, Ac,nominal is the nominal cross-section area of concrete, given by B2  Aso , fsyo is the yield stress of the
outer steel tube, and fck is the compression strength of concrete. The value of fck
for normal strength concrete is determined using 67% of the compression strength
of cubic blocks. Detailed expressions are given in Han et al. [17].
It can be seen from Fig. 12 that the higher the connement factor (n) is, the
higher the compression strength of conned concrete is. It can also be seen from
Fig. 12 that the higher is n, the more ductile is the conned concrete. The connement factor (n), to some extent, represents the composite action between steel
tubes and concrete.
The fabrication of concrete-lled steel SHS columns involves welding which
introduces residual stresses in the specimens. Fig. 13 shows a typical residual stress

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 9. Axial load versus extreme bre strains at mid-height of test specimens.

distribution for a steel plate in a column that has been fabricated with four steel
plates and a longitudinal llet weld [21]. The residual stresses in steel plates for
concrete-lled steel SHS columns were found to be 0:15fsy  0:25fsy in compression
and about fsy in tension [21]. The average value of 0.2fsy in compression is adopted
in this paper as shown in Fig. 13.
The load versus axial strain relations can be established based on the following
assumptions:

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1345

Fig. 10. Load (N) versus mid-height lateral deection (um) curves.

1. There is no slip between the steel and concrete.

2. Longitudinal stressstrain models of steel and concrete given in Han et al. [17]
are adopted in the analysis.
3. Residual stress distribution for a steel plate of a column shown as in Fig. 13 is
used in the analysis.

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

Fig. 11. Typical stressstrain curves for steel (schematic view).

Fig. 12. r versus e relations of concrete core.

Fig. 13. Residual stress distribution across plate of steel box column.

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1347

4. Force equilibrium and deformation consistencies are considered along the longitudinal direction, i.e.
N Nsi Nc Nso ;

esil ecl esol ;

in which Nsi, Nc and Nso are longitudinal forces carried by the inner steel tube,
the sandwiched concrete, and the outer steel tube, respectively; esil, ecl and esol
are longitudinal strains in the inner steel tube, the sandwiched concrete, and the
outer steel tube, respectively.
The procedures to calculate load versus axial strain are expressed as follows.
For a given (ith) increment in axial strain deli ! ith axial strain e1;i1
eli deli ! ith axial stress rsil;i1 ; rcl;i1 and rsoil;i1 ! ith forces Nsi;i ; Nc;i and
Nso;i ! ith force Ni.
The predicted curves of load versus axial strain are compared in Fig. 3 with
experimental curves. Good agreement is obtained between the predicted and tested
curves. The predicted section capacities using mechanics model (Nuc,mm) are compared in Table 2 with those obtained in the current tests (Nue). A mean ratio
(Nuc =Nue ) of 1.014 is obtained with a coecient of variation (COV) of 0.009.
3.2. Mechanics model for the composite beam-columns
A member subjected to compression is shown in Fig. 14, where N is the compression force, e is the load eccentricity and um is the mid-span deection. When
the load eccentricity (e) equals zero, the member under compression is called a column. Otherwise, the member is called a beam-column, i.e. it is under combined
bending and compression.
The load versus mid-span deection relations can be established based on the
following assumptions:
1. The stressstrain relationship for steel given in Han et al. [17] is adopted for
both tension and compression. The stressstrain relationship for concrete given
in Han et al. [17] is adopted for compression only. The contribution of concrete
in tension is neglected.
2. Original plane cross-sections remain plane.
3. The eect of shear force on deection of members is omitted.

Fig. 14. A schematic view of a beam-column.

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

4. The deection curve of the member is assumed as a sine wave.

5. Residual stress distribution for a steel plate of a column shown as in Fig. 13 is
used in the analysis.
According to the assumption no. 4, the deection (u) of the member can be
expressed as:
p 
u um  sin
z ;
L

where um is the mid-span deection, L is the length of the member and z is the
horizontal distance from the left support as dened in Fig. 14.
The curvature (/) at the mid-span can be calculated as:
/

p2
 um :
L2

The strain distribution is shown in Fig. 15, where eo is the strain along the
geometrical centre line of the section. The term ei is the strain at the location yi as
dened in Fig. 15. Along the line with y yi , the section can be divided into three
kinds of elements (dAso,i and dAsi,i for outer and inner steel tubes, respectively, and
dAci for concrete) with unit depth. The strain at the centre of each element can be
expressed as:
e i e o /  yi :

The stress at the centre of each element (rso,i and rsi,i for outer and inner steel
tubes, respectively, or rc,i for concrete) can be determined using the stressstrain
relationship given in Han et al. [17]. The internal moment (Min) and axial force

Fig. 15. Distribution of strains.

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1349

(Nin) can be calculated as:

X
Min
rso;i  dAso;i  yo;i rc;i  dAc;i  yc;i rsi;i  dAsi;i  yi;i ;

Nin

rso;i  dAso;i rc;i  dAc;i rsi;i  dAsi;i :

According to the equilibrium condition

Min Mapplied ;

10

Nin Napplied :

11

From the above equations, the load versus mid-span deection relations can be
established for a certain eccentricity (e). The geometrical imperfection is taken as
L=1000 [17].
The predicted curves of load versus lateral deection are compared in Figs. 6
and 11 with those obtained in the current beam and beam-column tests. A reasonable good agreement is achieved between the predicted and tested curves.
The predicted ultimate capacities for beams and beam-columns are compared
with the experimental values in Tables 3 and 4, where a mean of 1.072 and 0.95,
and COV of 0.023 and 0.020 are obtained for the CFDST beams and beam-columns, respectively.
Fig. 16 illustrates a typical calculated interaction relationship between compressive strength ratio (N=Nu ) and bending strength ratio (M=Mu ) of a CFDST beamcolumn with dierent column slenderness ratio (k). Nu and Mu are the section
capacity in compression and bending moment capacity of CFDST, respectively. It
can be found that the member capacities of the composite beam-columns decrease
with the increasing of member slenderness ratio (k). A careful examination of the
predicted results also revealed an interesting phenomenon, i.e. the N=Nu  M=Mu

Fig. 16. Predicted axial load (N=Nu ) versus moment (M=Mu )

&-600  600  14 mm, v 0:5, fsy 345 MPa, fck 26:8 MPa).

interaction

curves

(tube:

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

relationships of the CFDST beam-columns are very similar to those of the CFST
members [17].

4. Simplied models
4.1. Section capacity
It is assumed that the total capacity (Nu,sm) of CFDST is a sum of the inner tube
capacity (Ni,u) and a capacity (Nosu,u) which contributed by the outer tube together
with the concrete, i.e.
Nu;sm Nosc;u Ni;u ;

12

in which Ni;u Asi  fsyi and Nosu,u is determined similarly to that of fully concretelled steel tubular sections [17] with the relevant concrete section area for CFDST.
Nosu,u can be expressed by:
Nosc;u fscy  Asco ;

13

in which Asco Aso Ac ;






fsyo
fck
fscy 1:212 0:138
0:7646 n 0:0727 0:0216 n2 fck ; 14
235
20
where the units for fscy and fck are N/mm2.
The section capacities predicted using the simplied model are compared in
Fig. 17(a) with those obtained in stub column tests by Zhao et al. [15] and in the
current study. Good agreements are obtained.
4.2. Bending moment capacity
Similar to the approach used for stub columns, the bending moment capacity of
CFDST (Mu,sm) can be expressed as:
Mu;sm Mosc;u Mi;u

15

in which Mi;u Wsi  fsyi is moment capacity of the inner tube, Mosc,u is determined
similarly to that of fully concrete-lled steel tubular sections [17] with the relevant
concrete section area for CFDST. Mosu,u is given by:
Mosc;u cm  Wscm  fscy

16
p
in which cm 0:2428n 1:4103 n; Wscm B3 =6  p  D4 =32B, fscy is given
by Eq. (14).
The exural capacities predicted using the simplied model are compared in
Fig. 17(b) with those obtained in current tests. Results in this gure clearly show
that the predicted values are slightly lower than experimental ones.

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1351

Fig. 17. Comparison of calculated capacity between simplied model and tests. (a) Stub columns, (b)
beams and (c) beam-columns.

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L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

4.3. Interaction curves

The interaction equation suggested by Han et al. [17] for concrete-lled beamcolumns are used in this paper to predict the CFDST beam-columns with relevant
capacities for CFDST dened in Eqs. (12) and (15). The interaction curves were
rewritten here as
1
1  g=u
for g  2g0o ;

1  0:25N=NE 1  2g0o =u
 2
 
1
g
g
a
b 
1 for
1  0:25N=NE
u
u

17a
g < 2g0o ;

17b

in which
g

N
M
; 1
;
Nu;sm
Mu;sm

Nu,sm, Mu,sm are the sectional capacity and bending moment capacity of CFDST
section given by Eqs. (12) and (15), respectively;
elastic
p2  Esc
 Asco
;
2
k
Aso Ac ;

NE
Asco
elastic
Esc

is the section modulus of concrete-lled steel SHS in elastic stage [17]; u is

the stability reduction factor for the composite slender columns [17].
a 1  10o =g0o 2 ;

b 2g00 1  f0o u  g0o ;

g00 u3 go ;
f0o 1 u5 fo  1;
 

 0:65 
fck
235 0:38 0:1 0:45
go 0:2 


;
fsyo
a
20
 

 1:46 
fck
235 1:65 0:1 1:4


;
fo 1 0:11
fsyo
a
20
where the units for fsyo and fck are N/mm2.
The member capacities predicted using the simplied model are compared with
the experimental results in Fig. 17(c). Fig. 18 shows the axial load (N) versus
moment (M) interaction curves for the current specimens with dimensions of the
outer and the inner tubes are &-120  3 and U58  3, respectively. It can be found
from the above comparisons that the accuracy with which the formula predicted
the experimental strength is reasonable, and in general, the predictions are somewhat conservative.

L.-H. Han et al. / Thin-Walled Structures 42 (2004) 13291355

1353

Fig. 18. Axial load (N) versus moment (M) interaction curves for the tested specimens. (a) scb3, scbc1-1,
scbc1-2, scbc2-1, scbc2-2, scbc3-1, scbc3-2 and (b) scb3, scbc4-1, scbc4-2, scbc5-1, scbc5-2, scbc6-1,
scbc6-2.

5. Conclusions
A series of tests, including 14 stub columns, four beams and 12 beam-columns
on CFDST (SHS outer and CHS inner) sections have been performed. Mechanics
models have been established for CFDST stub columns, beams and beam-columns.
A connement factor has been used to describe the composite action between
steel tubes and the sandwiched concrete. The following observations and conclusions can be drawn based on the limited research reported in the paper:
1. Enhanced strength and ductility have been observed for CFDST (CHS inner
and SHS outer) stub columns, beams and bean-columns due to the composite
action between the steel tubes and the sandwiched concrete.
2. Mechanics models have been developed to predict the behavior of CFDST stub
columns, beams, columns and beam-columns.

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3. The load versus axial strain relationship has been established for concrete-lled
SHS stub columns. The load versus mid-span deection relationship has been
established for CFDST beams and beam-columns. Simplied models have been
developed to estimate the strength of CFDST stub columns, beams, columns
and beam-columns. All predictions were compared with test results with reasonable agreement achieved.

Acknowledgements
The research work reported herein was made possible by the Fujian Province
Science and Technology Project, the nancial support is highly appreciated. The
authors also express special thanks to Mr. Zheng Yong-Qian, Mr. Liu Cheng-Chao,
Miss Zheng Huai-Ying, and Mr. Zhuo Qiu-Lin for their assistance in the experiments.
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