Seismic behaviour of concrete-filled steel tube frames with external composite wall panels

Abstract

This study investigated the seismic performance of concrete-filled steel tube frames with external wall panels via experimental research, numerical and theoretical analysis. Pseudo-static tests were first performed on five concrete-filled steel tube frame specimens. The failure mode, hyster etic performance, stiffness degradation, strength degradation, ductility coefficient, and energy dissipation capacity in the essential components of the structural system were analysed. Besides, finite element analysis was then used to simulate the seismic performance of the specimen, and the predicted results were compared with the test results. A parametric analysis was then conducted to study the influence of the strength of the materials and the relative size of the wall openings on the structural system of the specimens. Finally, the numerical and experimental results were compared. The following results were obtained based on the observed failure modes of the specimens: (1) each specimen exhibited good seismic performance and safety reliability, (2) external wall panels improved the elastic stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity of concrete-filled steel tube frames, (3) the four-point support method effectively controlled the wall-plate displacement mode, and (4) the degree of horizontal constraint at the upper support joint connectors significantly affected the wall-plate displacement mode.