Lateral impact response of rectangular hollow and partially concrete-filled steel tubular columns

Under lateral impact, 3 rectangular hollow steel tubular (RHST) and 9 partially concrete-filled steel tubular (PCFST) column specimens were tested. The concrete filling height, the impact direction, and the impact energy were the main factors considered. A digital image correlation method was used to measure the displacement and strain responses of specimens under corner impact. The typical impact force, displacement and strain responses, as well as the failure modes of the specimens, were all analysed. The finite element analysis (FEA) model was established using ABAQUS to simulate the impact test. The predicted results of FEA model were in good agreement with the experimental results. Both the test and model results showed that the PCFST specimens had much better performance than the RHST specimens. The concrete filling height affected the failure mode significantly, especially when the specimens were tested under high-impact energy. The impact direction and energy significantly affected the impact resistance of the specimen.