Concrete-filled double skin (SHS outer and CHS inner) steel tubular beam-columns

A series of tests on concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns (14), beams (four) and beam-columns (12) were carried out. The specimens had square hollow section (SHS) as outer skin and circular hollow section (CHS) as inner skin. A mechanics model is developed in this paper for the CFDST stub columns, columns and beam-columns. A unified theory is described where a confinement factor (ξ) is introduced to describe the composite action between the steel tubes and the sandwiched concrete. The load versus axial strain relationship for CFDST stub columns is predicted. Simplified model is derived for section capacities of CFDST. The predicted beam-column strength is compared with that obtained in beam and beam-column tests. The load versus mid-span deflection relationship for CFDST beams and beam-columns is predicted. A simplified model is developed for calculating the member capacity of the CFDST beams. Simplified interaction curves are derived for CFDST beam-columns.