Experimental study of hysteretic behaviour for concrete-filled square thin-walled steel tubular columns

In this paper, the hysteretic behaviour of concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular (CFTST) columns was investigated experimentally. The parameters in the study included the axial load level and steel tube section type. Nine CFTST columns, including six columns with a longitudinal stiffener on each inner face of the steel tube and three columns with a longitudinal stiffener on the two opposite inner faces of the steel tube, were tested under a constant axial load in addition to a cyclic lateral load. The effect of axial load level on the hysteretic behaviour (stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation) was studied. Experimental results indicated that the CFTST columns under an axial load level below 0.5 exhibited plump hysteretic loops with a slight pinching effect, better ductility and energy dissipation capacity. The displacement ductility decreases significantly with an increase in the axial load level. Columns with two steel tube sections had almost the same load capacity, whilst the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of columns with a longitudinal stiffener on each inner face of the steel tube was better than that of columns with two opposite stiffeners.