The steel tube of a CFT column plays the role of the tie bars of an RC column and confines the concrete to improve its load capacity. The concrete inside the steel tube prevents the local buckling and lateral torsion of the tube. Complementing each ...
The steel tube of a CFT column plays the role of the tie bars of an RC column and confines the concrete to improve its load capacity. The concrete inside the steel tube prevents the local buckling and lateral torsion of the tube. Complementing each other, the steel tube and the concrete form an efficient composite structure. The cross-section of a CFT column is smaller when compared with a steel column or an RC column. The efficient composite effect generated from the steel tube and the concrete improves lateral resistance, ductility and energy absorption. Thanks to the advantages, CFT columns improve the seismic performance of super-tall buildings. In addition, because the steel tube acts as a mold, a mold is not needed in constructing a CFT column and the process is simplified. Therefore, construction period is shortened. However, CFT columns have disadvantages, too. When a CFT column is exposed to high temperatures as in the case of a fire, the structural performance of the steel tube is deteriorated rapidly. Welding, which is an indispensable process in making a CFT column, deteriorates its fire resistance performance. The brittleness of the weld zone is increased due to the structural changes of its surrounding part caused by rapid heating and rapid cooling during the process of welding, which can result in the brittle fracture of the steel tube when it undergoes multidirectional displacement caused by axial loads and thermal expansion. In addition, the existing equation for the fire resistance design of CFT columns has limits in the range of application and thus is not appropriate to large structures.
In this study, previous studies were analyzed to identify influential factors on the fire resistance performance of CFT columns, the level of the factors and the drawbacks of the existing fire resistance performance equation. In addition, full scale tests were conducted on weld-type CFT columns and slot-type CFT columns to evaluate their fire resistance performance and numerical analyses were conducted on the analysis model of the columns based on the test results to verify the fire resistance performance of the columns. Based on the fire resistance performance database obtained from the analysis of previous studies, tests & evaluation and numerical analyses, a fire resistance performance equation for practical application was suggested and the reliability of the equation was verified. The ultimate goal of this study was to suggest how to render fire resistance design technology for CFT columns practical.
In chapter 1, the background and scope of this study are described. In chapter 2, studies on the fire resistance design of CFT columns conducted in Korea and overseas are reviewed and summarized. In chapter 3, the fire resistance performance of CFT columns is evaluated through tests. In chapter 4, the fire resistance performance of CFT columns is verified through numerical analyses. In chapter 5, a fire resistance design equation is suggested based on the database obtained from the analysis of previous studies, full scale tests and numerical analyses and the reliability of the equation is verified. In chapter 6, a comprehensive conclusion is drawn on the results of the tests and analyses conducted in this study and the reliability of the suggested equation. The conclusion of this study is summarized as follows.
1) The fire resistance performance was compared between the weld-type CFT columns and the slot-type CFT columns using stiffeners and slot connectors, which were suggested to improve the structural performance of the weld-type CFT columns. The latter compared favorably with the former in terms of temperature-displacement relationship.
2) Finite element analyses conducted based on thermal and mechanical characteristics provided in the Eurocodes and previous studies rationally predicted the results of the fire resistance tests conducted on the weld-type and slot-type CFT columns. And, the numerical analyses expanded the range of prediction and provided database for the range which cannot be realized with Korean or overseas test equipment.
3) In order to improve the existing fire resistance performance equation and expand the range of application, database obtained from the previous studies, the full scale tests and the numerical analyses were analyzed and an equation was suggested with influential factors (diameter/length, ratio of concrete-steel tube cross-sectional areas, concrete strength and load ratio) taken into consideration.
4) In both the weld-type CFT columns and the slot-type CFT columns, the influence of slenderness ratio(D/L) and load ratio(LR) on fire resistance performance was twice as great as that of concrete strength(fck)and concrete-steel cross-sectional ratio(AC/AFS).