Assessing influence of active and passive confinement on flexural behaviour of CFST beams

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of active and passive confinement on the flexural behaviour of concrete-filled steel tubes. Three-point flexural test is carried out on twelve confined specimens. The main variable parameters are: tube diameter to thickness ratio (20, 30, and 60), compressive strength of concrete core (15 MPa and 45 MPa), and type of confinement (active or passive). The flexural capacity, energy absorption, flexibility and failure mode of confined specimens, as well as the cracking pattern of concrete core at failure point, are evaluated in this study. The results show that active confinement leads to lower ductile behaviour in specimens with higher strength of concrete core.