EFFECT OF INTERNAL STEEL TUBE PARAMETERS IN HYBRID DOUBLE SKIN HOLLOW

TUBULAR COLUMNS

SALONI1 PRAVEEN KUMAR2

1
PG student, Department of Civil Engg., Rajasthan Technical University, Kota-324010, salonipareek25@gmail.com
2
Professor, Department of Civil Engg., Rajasthan Technical University, Kota-324010, pkagarwal@rtu.ac.in

ABSTRACT─ In this paper an experimental study is presented to investigate the effect with different
parameters of internal mild steel tube in hybrid Double Skin Hollow Tubular Columns (DSHTC). UPVC
tubes were used as outer skin with 90mm and 110mm diameters. Mild steel (MS) tubes with 40mm, 50mm
and 65mm diameters were selected for inner skin. The filled matrix was flowable concrete. The specimens
were subjected to axial loading and the deflections were recorded. With the tests data, curves were plotted
between load and deflections, which were used to find out energy absorption at different load stages.

Keywords: DSHTC, Energy absorption, Ductility ratio.

INTRODUCTION

Columns are critical members in structures, these transfers load to foundation. Therefore, they should be
designed adequately to perform their function. Generally, columns are subjected to axial load which
compress the concrete; due to this, concrete moves in lateral direction. Concrete is weak in tension and has
no ductility, so, they require confinement to preserve its geometry and to absorb energy. Confinement is
the action by which the lateral movement of concrete is restricted. In the reinforced concrete column, lateral
ties are provided to restrict concrete movement in transverse direction. Provision of lateral ties at a regular
interval, confines the concrete and provides some ductility also. For continuous confinement,initially
concrete filled steel tubes were used by many researchers which confine the concrete core and improve
ductility of column and also increase energy absorption [4]. Then, two tubes of same or different cross
sectional shapes were concentrically placed and their annular space was in-filled with concrete [2,5-8].
Such sections are called double skinned hollow tubular columns. The main principle of these types of
composite columns is that tubes act as form work as well as main and lateral reinforcement. The sections
when subjected to load, the in-filled concrete prevents the local buckling of tubes and the tubes confine the
concrete, so load carrying capacity of such section gets increased. When tubes of two different materials
are used, then the section is called a hybrid section.

LITERATURE

Gupta studied the effectiveness of UPVC tube for confinement of concrete column and reported
enhancement in load carrying capacity, ductility and energy absorption [1]. Gupta observed shear type
failure pattern. Kalil studied effects of practical use of composite double skinned sheets with respect to BS
5400[5]. Elchalakani et al concluded that it is possible that cracking of concrete allowed further buckling
and at the end of elastic stage, the bond loss between steel and concrete is expected [6]. Tao reported that
D/t ratio is indirectly proportional to the ductility and confinement is proportional to the ductility [9].
According to Kim et al, contribution of inner tube to the ultimate compression is negligible [8].
From review of literature, Double Skin Hollow Tubular Column (DSHTC) made of UPVC outer and mild
steel inner tube and the annular space in-filled with flowable concrete is not evidenced. Hence, this paper
presents experimental findings of axial load test made on the hybrid DSHTC with UPVC outer and mild
steel inner tube in-filled with flowable concrete. The inner tube parameters were varied and their effect was
investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

Materials
Un-plasticized poly-vinyl-chloride (UPVC) tube
In this paper, UPVC tubes was chosen to confine the concrete externally after considering following points
1. Polymer is one of the most stable substances when high resistance to corrosion is required. The
anti-corrosion characteristics of UPVC have been proven to be outstanding.
2. High electrical insulation.
3. Low diffusion for humidity and large elongation at break.
4. UPVC tube can also be used as protective layer against mechanical damage caused by the severe
environment. Physical properties of UPVC are given in Table 1. The thermal conductivity of UPVC
is only 0.45% that of a steel tube; it can provide a stable curing condition for the core concrete to
achieve high performance and high durability. It can withstand those mechanical damages which
occur in the exposure of high energy environments like marine and saline.
Physical properties of UPVC tubes are given in Table 1.

Table 1 Physical Properties of UPVC tubes

Parameter Value
Density 13-14.5 kN/m3
Elastic modulus 3380 MPa
Flexure strength 65.5 MPa
Poisson ratio 0.38
Ultimate tensile strength 27.5-52 MPa
Breaking elongation 134%
Service life >50 years

The UPVC tube diameter of 90mm and 110mm were selected with 3mm thickness. Length to diameter
ratio was considered as three. So, the length of 90mm diameter tube was 270mm and the length of
110mm diameter tube was 330mm.

Mild Steel Tubes

For inner skin, mild steel tubes available in the local market of Kota, India, satisfying thickness required
as per IS 1239-2004 (Part 1) were procured. In the study, 40, 50 and 65mm diameters were selected
for the inner skin material with different thicknesses. With UPVC tube of 90mm diameter, two
diameters 40mm and 50mm of mild steel tube were used and with 110mm UPVC tube, 50mm and
65mm diameter of the MS tube were selected. Both tubes were kept concentrically on a base plate and
flowable concrete was filled in annular space, which did not require any compaction. Physical
properties of MS tubes are given in Table 2.

Table 2 Physical Properties of MS tubes

 Parameter Value
Density 7850 kg/m3
Elastic modulus 210 GPa
Ultimate tensile strength 410 GPa
Thickness in mm 2.9, 3.2, 4.0 and 4.5

Concrete
Flow-able concrete was adopted to ensure the quality of concrete casting and no compaction required when
filled in small annular space of hybrid DSHTC specimens. The flow-able concrete was prepared with
Ordinary Portland cement, fly ash, ultra fine calcium carbonate, super plasticizer, river sand and coarse
aggregate with maximum nominal size of 10mm. The mix proportion is given in Table 3.

Table 3 Mix Proportion, Quantities in Kg for One Cubic Meter of Concrete

Material Quantity
Water 190
Cement 223
Fly ash 233
Ultra fine calcium carbonate 19
Super plasticizer 4.3
Sand 795
Coarse aggregate 863

Details of Specimens

In this experimental study, total 8 specimens were casted. All the specimens were casted with H/D ratio as
3. Table 4 shows the details of specimens.

Table 4 Details of Specimens

Specimen Douter(mm) Dinner (mm) touter (mm) tinner (mm)

DSH1A 90 40 3 2.9
DSH1B 90 40 3 4.0
DSH2A 90 50 3 2.9
DSH2B 90 50 3 4.5
DSH3A 110 50 3 2.9
DSH3B 110 50 3 4.5
DSH4A 110 65 3 3.2
DSH4B 110 65 3 4.5

Here ‘DSH’ represents double skin section and ‘A’ denotes light inner skin and ‘B’ denotes heavy inner
skin.
Testing of Specimens
Entire tests were carried out using 3000kN compression testing machine at Rajasthan Technical University
Kota, India. Figure 1 shows the tests arrangement. Magnetic type dial gauges were used to measure the
deflection. Axial compressive load was applied and all specimens were subjected to load up to failure.

Fig. 1: Test Arrangement

EXPERIMENTAL TESTS RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Mode of Failure

All specimens exhibited bulging failure pattern at the ends and mid of the specimen was observed, shown
in figure 2.Same type of mode of failure was also observed by Gupta (2013) in the experimental study [1].
Inner skin and outer skinbulged inwardly and outward respectively due to axial loading.

Fig. 2: Typical Failure Modes of Specimens

Load-Deflection Curve

All the DSHTC specimens exhibited ductile failure, presented in Fig. 3. Load-compression curves are
classified according to the specimens with the same outer diameter and different inner tubes.
 500 600
400 500

Load (kN)
400
300 90/40(2.9) 110/50(2.9)
Load (kN)

300
200 90/40(4) 110/50(4.5)
200
100 90/50(2.9) 100 110/65(3.2)

0 90/50(4.5) 0 110/65(4.5)
0 20 40 60 0 20 40
-100
Compression (mm) Compression (mm)

Fig. 3: Load-Axial Deflection Curve

Load deflection curve upto the peak point is treated as a bilinear curve, as shown schematically in Fig. 4.
Also presented are some salient points beyond yield load. The computed quantities i.e. ductility ratios and
energy ratios, are calculated by following equations [1]:

µu = ∆u/∆y, µ90 = ∆90 /∆y, µ80 = ∆80/∆y (1)

ξu=Eu/ Ey, ξ90 =E90/Ey , ξ80 = E80/Ey (2)

Where µu, µ90, µ80 are the ductility ratios and ξu, ξ90, ξ80 are the energy ratios corresponding to peak, 90% of
peak and 80% of peak load point respectively. Δy, Δu, Δ90, Δ80 are the displacements and Ey,Eu, E90, E80 are
absorbed energy corresponding to yield, peak, 90% of peak and 80% of peak load point respectively.

Fig.4: Different stages of load-displacement curve

All the test results of the experimental study in terms of displacement, ultimate load, ductility ratios,
absorbed energy and energy ratios are presented in Table 5.

Table 5: Experimental results and computed data

Specimen Displacement (mm) Ductility Ratios Absorbed Energy (Joule) Energy Ratios
 Ultimate
Load ∆y ∆u ∆80 ∆90 µu µ90 µ80 Ey Eu E90 E80 ξu ξ90 ξ80
(kN)
DSH1A 254.46 5.65 18.6 23.2 26.6 3.32 4.1 4.7 713.4 3860.1 4936.6 5664.4 5.41 6.92 7.94
DSH1B 324.07 5.95 22.1 31.6 34.1 3.71 5.31 5.73 774.4 5428.9 7914.5 9060.0 7.01 10.22 11.7
DSH2A 269.15 4 14.6 19.4 20.6 3.65 4.84 5.14 517.6 3242.5 4472.2 4747.0 6.23 8.64 9.17
DSH2B 420.13 5.88 22.4 32.2 34.1 3.81 5.48 5.79 836.4 6849.8 9408.2 10070 8.19 11.24 12.1
DSH3A 290.43 7 12.3 20.5 23.9 1.76 2.92 3.42 838.8 2205.9 3397.4 5177.4 2.63 4.05 6.17
DSH3B 484.3 7.6 22 27.6 31.2 2.9 3.63 4.11 1183.8 6007.6 7943.4 8830.8 5.07 6.71 7.46
DSH4A 365.16 8.2 15.6 25.5 31.9 1.91 3.11 3.89 1357.4 3827.8 7004.0 9474.3 2.82 5.16 6.98
DSH4B 513.18 6.7 20.5 26.7 30.3 3.06 3.99 4.52 1516.1 8762.8 10627.5 11870.7 5.78 7.01 7.83

CONCLUSIONS

Following conclusions are drawn from the results presented in the paper:
• The load carrying capacity of DSHTC improved with increase in thickness of inner steel tube.
• Confining effect in DSTC enhanced with decrease in in-filled concrete thickness.
• The ductility ratios and energy ratios are improved with higher thickness of inner steel tubes of
DSTC.

Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the material support receivedfor ultra- fine calcium carbonate powder from M/S 20
Microns Limited, Vadodara and superplasticizer from BASF.

References

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