Stability and ductility of high performance steel sections with concrete infill

This paper aims to investigate the stability and ductility characteristics of concrete filled columns using high performance steels (HPS). HPS includes both high strength steel and stainless steel which exhibit improved strength, as well as corrosion resistance, hardness etc. When such steel sections are filled with concrete the stability characteristics for both short and slender columns’ behaviour need to be modified to take account of the potential advantages for both local and overall bucklings. In addition, the concrete infill will also play a role in improving the post-peak behaviour of both short and slender columns and this needs to be considered. This paper will provide both an experimental and a theoretical treatment of these issues and will provide comparisons with existing design procedures, to illustrate the significant advantages which the juxtaposition of concrete provides to high performance steel sections.