Zhuojin Pipe Fitting Co., LtdLateral Resistance Analysis of Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Column with Horizontal Rib Corrugated Steel Plate Shear Wall System
Literature Overview
This study by Yu Yujie, Zhao Fengtao, and Guo Fengqi (2020), published in the Journal of Tianjin University (Science and Technology), proposes a novel structural system combining concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns with horizontally ribbed corrugated steel plate shear walls for steel structure residential buildings. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientists Fund (Grant No. 51708402), the research employs nonlinear finite element analysis to evaluate the lateral resistance performance of three types of corrugated steel plate shear wall assemblies under pushover loading. The authors investigate the effects of axial compression ratio, stiffening beam arrangement, and CFST column configuration on lateral bearing capacity and failure modes.
Core Technical Content
Proposed Structural System
The proposed system integrates CFST columns as the primary vertical load-bearing elements with corrugated steel plate shear walls as the lateral force-resisting system. This combination addresses several challenges in steel structure residential construction:
- CFST columns provide high axial load capacity with compact cross-sections, maximizing usable floor area
- Corrugated steel plate shear walls offer efficient lateral resistance with lightweight, prefabricated components
- The system is compatible with prefabricated construction methods, reducing on-site labor and construction time
Three Types of Shear Wall Configurations
| Configuration | Description | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| I-type (straight) | Single-story corrugated plate between two CFST columns | Simplest configuration; susceptible to out-of-plane buckling |
| C-type | L-shaped or C-shaped plan with short wall limbs on sides | Side limbs provide lateral support to edge columns |
| Composite异形 (irregular) | Combined configuration with additional wall segments | Enhanced lateral stability and load distribution |
Nonlinear Pushover Analysis Results
The finite element analysis incorporated geometric and material nonlinearities to capture the full response of the shear wall assemblies from initial loading through to failure. The key findings are summarized below:
Elastic Lateral Performance: All configurations with stiffening beams achieved elastic lateral resistance within a story drift ratio of 1/250, which meets the serviceability requirements for wind loading in most seismic design codes.
Stiffening Beam Effects: The arrangement of stiffening beams effectively reduces the effective width of the corrugated steel plate, thereby decreasing the width-to-thickness ratio and preventing overall out-of-plane buckling of the corrugated plate. This enables the corrugated plate to reach shear yielding, which is the desired failure mode for ductile shear wall behavior.
Axial Compression Ratio Effects: The axial compression ratio significantly influences the stability and lateral performance of the shear wall system. For the I-type configuration, higher axial compression ratios combined with lateral deformation can induce local bulging and out-of-plane instability of the edge columns, which subsequently triggers out-of-plane buckling of the corrugated plate and reduces the lateral bearing capacity.
Design Recommendations:
- For I-type shear walls: adopt a thick column wall and thin corrugated plate configuration; strictly control the axial compression ratio
- For C-type and composite异形 shear walls: the side short wall limbs provide effective lateral support to the edge columns, limiting overall out-of-plane instability, increasing vertical load capacity, and enhancing lateral resistance
- With proper stiffening beam arrangement, C-type and composite异形 shear walls can provide stable shear resistance within a story drift ratio of 1/100
Axial Compression Ratio Limits: Based on the analysis results, the proposed axial compression ratio limits are:
- C-type corrugated plate composite shear wall: up to 0.5
- Irregular corrugated plate composite shear wall: up to 0.7
These limits ensure stable lateral resistance and adequate ductility under seismic loading.
Engineering Practice Implications
From the perspective of steel pipe manufacturing and steel structure fabrication, this study has several practical implications:
CFST Column Fabrication: The CFST columns in this system must be manufactured to precise specifications to ensure proper composite action with the core concrete. Key manufacturing considerations include:
- Tight dimensional tolerances on tube outer diameter and wall thickness to ensure proper fit within the shear wall assembly
- Surface treatment of the inner tube surface to promote bonding with concrete, as discussed in the context of debonding prevention
- Quality control of longitudinal welds for LSAW tubes, ensuring full penetration and absence of defects
- Post-fabrication inspection including dimensional verification, surface quality assessment, and material certification
Corrugated Steel Plate Manufacturing: The corrugated steel plates are fabricated through cold forming of steel sheets. Manufacturing quality considerations include:
- Consistent corrugation geometry including amplitude, wavelength, and transition radii
- Uniform material thickness and mechanical properties across the plate surface
- Surface coating integrity for corrosion protection, particularly at corrugation crests and troughs
- Edge quality and dimensional accuracy for proper connection to stiffening beams and columns
Welding and Connection Quality: The connections between CFST columns, corrugated plates, and stiffening beams are critical for system performance. Welding quality requirements include:
- Full-penetration butt welds for stiffening beam-to-column connections
- Fillet welds for corrugated plate-to-stiffening beam connections with adequate throat thickness
- Post-weld inspection through visual testing (VT), magnetic particle testing (MT), or ultrasonic testing (UT) depending on weld criticality
- Weld residual stress management through proper welding sequence and, where necessary, post-weld heat treatment
Key Questions and Reflections
The study presents an innovative structural system with promising performance characteristics. However, several aspects warrant further consideration:
- Cyclic loading behavior: The pushover analysis captures monotonic loading response, but seismic performance requires understanding of cyclic behavior including energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, and cumulative damage. Cyclic loading tests or analyses would provide more comprehensive seismic performance information.
- Fire resistance: Steel structure residential buildings must meet fire resistance requirements. The fire performance of the CFST column and corrugated steel plate shear wall system under fire conditions deserves investigation, particularly regarding the loss of strength in the corrugated plate and the potential for concrete spalling in CFST columns.
- Construction tolerances: The system performance may be sensitive to construction tolerances, particularly the alignment of CFST columns and the positioning of stiffening beams. Tolerance analysis and construction quality control protocols should be developed.
- Cost-effectiveness: While the system offers technical advantages, economic viability is essential for widespread adoption in residential construction. Cost analysis comparing this system with conventional shear wall systems would strengthen the practical case for implementation.
Study Insights and Implications
This research advances the state of the art in steel structure residential building systems by proposing and analyzing a novel combination of CFST columns and corrugated steel plate shear walls. The identification of optimal configurations, including the effectiveness of C-type and composite异形 arrangements, provides practical design guidance for engineers. The established axial compression ratio limits offer clear design criteria that can be directly applied in structural design practice. For the steel pipe and steel structure fabrication industry, the study highlights the growing demand for high-quality CFST columns and corrugated steel plate components in modern residential construction. Engineers should consider adopting this system for projects where prefabrication, rapid construction, and efficient use of floor area are priority concerns, while ensuring rigorous quality control throughout the manufacturing, fabrication, and assembly processes.