Seismic behavior and strength of tubed steel reinforced concrete (SRC) short columns

The seismic behavior of tubed SRC short columns has been investigated by testing eight specimens subjected to combined constant axial compression and lateral cyclic load. Three circular tubed SRC columns (CTSRC) and three square tubed SRC (STSRC) columns were tested in this research with two common SRC columns for comparison. Different axial load ratios (n0=0.3n0=0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) have been adopted for the constant axial load. The test results indicate that the shear strength, plastic deformation capacity, ductility index, and energy dissipating capacity of the tubed SRC short columns were much higher than those of the SRC columns with the same steel ratio and axial compressive load. The lateral load strength of CTSRC and STSRC short columns increased with an increment in axial load level, while the axial load ratio has no obvious effect on the plastic deformation capacity of CTSRC and STSRC short columns. The steel tubes prevented the shear failure of the concrete more effectively in the circular columns than in the square ones. Shear connector studs should be used in CTSRC and STSRC short columns to prevent bond failure between concrete and flanges of the steel section. A modified ACI design method was adopted to calculate the nominal shear strength of STSRC columns as well as CTSRC columns.