IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 3 | Issue 09 | March 2017

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Experimental Investigation of Cold Formed Steel

Long and Short Composite Columns Infilled with
M - Sand
Aravindhan. A Veeraragavan. S
PG Scholar Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur 635109 Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur 635109

Satheesh. V. S
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur 635109

Abstract
The Experimental behavior of cold formed steel hollow, in filled Conventional Concrete and M-Sand replaced concrete in-filled
short and long columns subjected to axial load. The experimental investigations are carried out to study the change in strength
characteristics obtained for 50% Usage of M-sand. The In-Fill Mix Chosen was M40 for both Conventional and M Sand Mix.
The behavior of hollow, CC and in-filled light gauge steel short and long columns and their load carrying capacities are to be
studied. Load-Axial shortening and Load-Strain behavior for all the specimens tested are to be drawn. The ultimate loads are
determined experimentally.
Keywords: Cold form steel, M-sand, Conventional concrete
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION

In modern structural constructions, light weight steel columns have gradually become a central element in structural systems like
buildings, bridges. Steel composite columns have become so widespread owing to their axially compressed nature making them
superior to conventional reinforced concrete and steel structural systems in terms of stiffness, strength, ductility, and energy
absorption capacity. The steel tube not only takes axial load, but also provides confining pressure to the concrete core, while the
concrete core takes axial load and prevents or delays local buckling of the steel tube. Furthermore, concrete filled composite
columns also have the advantage of requiring no formwork during construction, thus reducing construction costs. After this
improved research effort has focused attention on developing techniques for combining steel and concrete most appropriately
called as steel-concrete composite structures using light weight gauge.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

1) Lu, Li and Guojun Sun (2007) investigated the bending moment-axial force- curvature (M-N-) relation of eccentrically
compressed square concrete-filled steel tube columns by analytically. A simplified analytical method for predicting the
ultimate strength of eccentrically compressed square concrete-filled steel tube columns based on the collapse theory was
presented. This method was also calculated the ultimate strength of axially compressed columns with initial imperfection. In
this study, the proposed method was compared with experimental results from the work of Furlong, Knowles and Park and
Zuo et al. From the comparisons it was seen that the proposed formula predict fairly well for the ultimate strength of the
square CFT columns.
2) Ben-Young and Ehab Ellobody (2006) experimentally investigated the behavior of high strength concrete filled high
strength stainless cold formed steel tube columns under the effects of shape of the stainless steel tube, plate thickness and
concrete strength. The test strength were compared with the design strengths calculated using the American, Australian,
New Zealand standards. The test strength and load axial strain relationship shown that the ductility of the column decreased
with the increase of the concrete strength. For slender section, the local buckling failure mode was observed. The
comparisons of test strength with design strengths predicted by the codes were conservative. Based on the test results, design
recommendations were proposed for concrete-filled high strength stain less steel tube columns.
3) Jian CAI and Zhen-Qiang He (2006).The axial load behavior of square concrete-filled steel tubular (S-CFT) stub columns
with binding bars were experimentally tested by Ten specimens with the binding wires and 5 specimens without binding
bars were tested to examine the effects of width to thickness ratio and binding bars on ultimate strength, stiffness and

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 Experimental Investigation of Cold Formed Steel Long and Short Composite Columns Infilled with M - Sand
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 069)

ductility of S-CFT columns. The spacing and diameter of binding bars have an important influence on ultimate strength and
plastic deformability of square CFT columns with binding bars. When spacing of binding bars were decreased and the
diameter of binding bars were increased, the ultimate strength and the corresponding strain of specimens with binding bars
were increased remarkably and the post load- strain curve increased slowly. With the thickness of steel tube increasing, the
D/t ratio decreasing, the ultimate strength and the corresponding strain increases and the columns become more ductile.
4) Jane Helena and G.M.Samuelknight (2005), present the experimental behavior and design of axial loaded concrete-filled
steel tube circular stub column. The test parameters were in-filled concrete strength and external diameter of the steel tube-
to-plate thickness ratio. The column strength and axial load shortening values were evaluated for the various concrete
strength and aspect ratios. The experimental results are validated by the design strengths calculated using the American,
Australian and European specifications. In the experimental investigation following conclusions were drawn. The column
strength increases due to the decreases of the D/t ratio up to 55 and increases for the D/t ratio 55 and 70. It is also arrived the
relationship between the column strengths and one concrete cube strength increases approximately linear as the concrete
strength increases. It was also described that ductility of the column decreases as the concrete strength increases. Comparing
the theoretical ultimate values of column, the American and Australian standards are conservative, while those of the
European code are unconservative. In this paper reliability analysis were also performed to evaluate the current composite
column design rules.
5) Sumei Zhang et al. (2005) examined the behavior of steel tube and confined high strength concrete for concrete-filled RHS
tubes. 50 specimens were tested to study the steel ratio, section height to breadth ratio, concrete strength on the ultimate
strength of columns. A numerical separation method was used to separate the compressive load carried by the steel tube and
core concrete. To determine the overall behavior of the high strength concrete-filled RHS tubes an equivalent one
dimensional linear stress strain model of the steel and the confine concrete were developed. In this experimental result, the
concrete strength influenced the failure pattern of concrete-filled RHS columns. The core concrete with lower strength failed
by splitting and the high strength failed by shrinking. Ductility was increased with increase in height to breadth ratio. It was
also noted that, the load bearing capacity of high strength concrete-filled RHS tubes under axial load was greater than the
summation of the load bearing capacity of steel.
6) Hatzigeorgiou and Beskos (2005) studied the optimum design of Fiber Reinforced Concrete filled (FRC) steel tube columns.
The study taken into account the effects of confinement of concrete and its steel fiber reinforcement. The design variables of
the problem were the dimension of the column and percentage of steel fibers and the constraints were prescribed by the
strength and stability requirements. An optimum methodology was prescribed and by this method the FRC filled steel tube
columns designed both economically and effectively.

III. MATERIALS USED

Cold-formed steel
M sand

Cold-Formed Steel
Light gauge steel framing members, sometime called as cold-formed steel, cold form steel is most prevalently used to describe
construction materials and are made from structural quality steel sheet thats formed into shapes either through press-breaking
blanks sheared from sheets or coils, or more commonly, by roll-forming the steel through a series of dies. Unlike hot-formed
structural I-Beams, neither process requires heat to form the shape, thus the name cold-formed steel. Light gauge steel
products are usually thinner, faster to produce, and cost less than their hot-formed counterparts.

Sand
When rock is crushed and sized in a quarry the main aim has generally been to produce coarse aggregates and road construction
materials meeting certain specifications. Generally, this process has left over a proportion of excess fines of variable properties,
generally finer than 5-mm size. The left over river material from the crushing process is commonly known as manufactured sand.
In this project work this type of manufactured sand will be used as fine aggregate material for making concrete.

IV. MATERIAL PROPERTIES

Properties of Light Weight Gauge Steel Sections

Substantial elimination of delays due to weather, High strength and stiffness, Ease of prefabrication and mass production ,Fast
and easy erection and installation, More accurate detailing, No formwork needed, Termite-proof and rot proof, Uniform quality,
Lightness in weight, Economy in transportation and handling, Non combustibility, Recyclable material, Non shrinking and non-
creeping at ambient temperatures.

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 Experimental Investigation of Cold Formed Steel Long and Short Composite Columns Infilled with M - Sand
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 069)

Table 1
Properties of Manufactured Sand
Property Value
Specific gravity 2.67
Water absorption 1.0%
Free moisture content 0.2%
Fine modulus 3.71

V. DESIGN MIX: CONVENTIONAL CONCRETE

The concrete mix was designed for cube compression strength of 40 MPa at 28 days. The design mix was 1:2.4:2.5 with w/c
ratio of 0.40 using coarse aggregate of size 12.5mm (70%) and another size 10mm (30%). Then the size of fine aggregate is
2.36mm. These are as per ACI committee 211.1.1991 recommendations. The concrete mix (CC and M-SAND) for the composite
columns was mixed in two separate batches. The concrete cubes are casted for the values of cube compressive strength for both
the conventional concrete mix.

M-Sand In-Filled Concrete

To prepare the cubes for mix proportion 50% of M-Sand with replacement of fine aggregate. In this cube test the compressive
strength is found out. Then after column casting load bearing capacity of the column is found out.

VI. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST (TEST ON SHORT COLUMNS)

Short columns tests were conducted in the Testing Frame. The Rectangular hollow, CC in-filled and M-Sand In-filled were
tested. The columns were tested under axial load condition. The test specimens were the test specimens were placed centrally on
the bending bench of the machine. The verticality of the Short column was ensured with the help of a plumb line. Deflectometer
was placed to measure the axial shortening and strain gauges are fixed at the longer face of the specimen. The axial load was
increased slowly till the ultimate load was reached. Prior to the actual test, a load level of 10 kN was applied so that the platens
of the testing machine were firmly attached to both ends of the specimen. The axial load was then applied at a loading rate of
0.30mm/min. The axial shortening and longitudinal strain of the specimen were recorded at a load increment of 25kN.
Table 2
Experimental Loading Values for Short Columns
Sl.No Specimen Type Experimental Load (kN)
1 Hollow 168
2 Conventional Concrete 276.80
3 M-Sand 298.70
It was observed that the CC in-filled columns were taking 64% more load than the hollow columns and M-Sand in-filled
columns were taking 53% more load than the hollow columns. This is because the M-Sand Sand showed some brittle
Characteristics.

Fig. 1: Load Vs Axial Shortening

Load versus axial shortening behavior of the Short columns is shown. In the initial stage the load versus axial shortening of the
test specimens showed a linear curve. After attaining the peak value (max load capacity) the curve drops slowly for hollow
columns and the sudden drop for in-filled columns showing the reduction in capacity of column with small increment in axial
shortening.

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 Experimental Investigation of Cold Formed Steel Long and Short Composite Columns Infilled with M - Sand
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 069)

Load Vs Micro Strain

The loads versus micro strain for all the types of Short Columns were shown. The strain hardening portion is longer one for the
SFRC in-filled columns compared to CC in-filled columns exhibiting the ductile nature of the in-fill.

Fig. 2: Load Vs Micro Strain

VII. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST (TEST ON LONG COLUMNS)

Long columns tests were conducted in the Testing Frame. The Rectangular hollow, CC in-filled and M-Sand In-filled were
tested. The columns were tested under axial load condition. The test specimens were the test specimens were placed centrally on
the bending bench of the machine. The verticality of the Long column was ensured with the help of a plumb line. Deflectometer
was placed to measure the axial shortening and strain gauges are fixed at the longer face of the specimen. The axial load was
increased slowly till the ultimate load was reached. Prior to the actual test, a load level of 10 kN was applied so that the platens
of the testing machine were firmly attached to both ends of the specimen. The axial load was then applied at a loading rate of
0.30mm/min. The axial shortening and longitudinal strain of the specimen were recorded at a load increment of 25kN. It was
observed that the CC in-filled columns were taking 64% more load than the hollow columns and M-Sand in-filled columns were
taking 53% more load than the hollow columns. This is because the M-Sand Sand showed some brittle Characteristics.
Table 3
Experimental Loading Values for Long Columns
Sl.No Specimen Type Experimental Load (kN)
1 Hollow 245.20
2 Conventional concrete 294.50
3 M-Sand 343.60

Load Vs Axial Shortening

Load versus axial shortening behavior of the Long columns is shown. In the initial stage the load versus axial shortening of the
test specimens showed a linear curve. After attaining the peak value (max load capacity) the curve drops slowly for hollow
columns and the sudden drop for in-filled columns showing the reduction in capacity of column with small increment in axial
shortening.

Fig. 3: Load Vs Axial Shortening

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 Experimental Investigation of Cold Formed Steel Long and Short Composite Columns Infilled with M - Sand
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 069)

Load Vs Axial Micro Strain

The loads versus micro strain for all the types of Long columns were shown. The strain hardening portion is longer one for the
SFRC in-filled columns compared to CC in-filled columns exhibiting the ductile nature of the in-fill.

Fig. 4: Load Vs Micro Strain

VIII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

From this study it is concluded that conventional concrete column has lesser strength with when compared to M-Sand infill
concrete.
The lateral behavior of conventional concrete is less when compared to M-Sand infill.
Comparing both long and short column, the results which obtained from long columns gives better results in strength basis
than shorter columns.
Hence the infill concrete is suggested for non-load bearing structures where load is considered.

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