Study on steel reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular column under compression

The Steel reinforced concrete-filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubular column is proposed as a new form of composite column to obtain higher mechanical performance. This paper presents experimental and numerical studies of axially loaded steel reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular columns. Ten steel reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular columns and two concrete filled GFRP tubular columns are tested. The specimens fail by the rupture of the GFRP tubes under hoop tension and only outward buckling can be observed because of the presence of the concrete core and steel section. Also, the crushed concrete core and buckling of steel section could be observed after removing of the FRP tube. The results indicate steel reinforced concrete-filled GFRP tubular columns have higher specimen stiffness, strength and deformability than concrete filled GFRP tubular columns. A parametric study, including steel ratio and concrete strength, is also carried out.