Nonlinear analysis of short concrete-filled double skin tube columns subjected to axial compressive forces

Proper material constitutive models for concrete-filled double skin tube (CFDST) columns with circular cross-section and subjected to axial compressive forces are proposed and verified against experiment data using the nonlinear finite element program Abaqus. It is shown that CFDST columns can provide a good confining effect for concrete core, especially when the diameter-to-thickness ratios of both the outer and the inner tubes are small. In addition, empirical equations are proposed to predict the lateral confining pressure of the concrete core for CFDST columns. Finally, the axial strengths of the CFDST columns calculated by the proposed formulations are compared with AISC formulations against the experimental data. It has been shown that the proposed formulations are better than the AISC formulations.

► Material models for concrete-filled double skin tube columns are proposed.
► They are verified against experiment data using the finite element program Abaqus.
► Empirical equations are proposed for the confining pressure of the concrete core.
► The proposed formulations are shown to be better than the AISC formulations.