Seismic Resistance of Steel-Tubed High-Strength Reinforced-Concrete Columns

Abstract

In this paper, experimental investigation of cyclic response of steel-tubed high-strength reinforced-concrete (STHSRC) columns is presented. An STHSRC column is an ordinary reinforced-concrete column where most of the transverse reinforcement is in the form of a thin steel tube. The steel tube confines the whole concrete section and provides high shear resistance. Steel-tubed columns are more ductile and have higher lateral resistance than ordinary reinforced-concrete columns and concrete-filled tubed columns, even under high axial compressive loads. In this paper, the seismic behavior of STHSRC columns is presented. Six full-scale columns were experimentally investigated under constant axial loads and cyclic lateral load/displacement. Test results were compared with those of ordinary high-strength reinforced-concrete columns. Based on the findings of this research, STHSRC columns exhibit higher lateral strength and ductility than ordinary reinforced-concrete columns. Unlike that of ordinary reinforced-concrete columns, the ductility of STHSRC columns is not sensitive to the presence of axial compressive loads.