Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

www.elsevier.com/locate/jcsr

Experimental behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tubular

columns
You-Fu Yang a , Lin-Hai Han b,c,
a College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Gongye Road 523, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, Peoples Republic of China
b Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, Peoples Republic of China
c Key Laboratory of Structural Engineering and Vibration of China Education Ministry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, Peoples Republic of China

Received 19 September 2005; accepted 23 February 2006

Abstract
This paper describes a series of tests on steel tubular columns of circular and square section filled with normal concrete and recycled aggregate
concrete. Thirty specimens, including 24 recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tubular (RACFST) columns and 6 normal concrete filled steel
tubular (CFST) columns, were tested to investigate the influence of variations in the tube shape, circular or square, concrete type, normal concrete
and recycled aggregate concrete, and load eccentricity ratio, from 0 to 0.53 on the performance of such composite columns. The test results show
that both types of filled columns failed due to overall buckling. Comparisons are made with predicted ultimate strengths of RACFST columns using
the existing codes, such as ACI 318-1999, AIJ-1997, AISC-LRFD-1999, BS5400-1979, DBJ13-51-2003 and EC4-1994. A theoretical model for
normal CFST columns is adopted in this paper for RACFST columns. The predicted load versus deformation relationships are in good agreement
with test results.
c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube (RACFST); Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC); Composite columns; Composite action; Ultimate strength;
Design codes

1. Introduction
Hollow structural steel (HSS) sections are often filled with
concrete to form a composite column. Such kinds of composite
columns have been the interest of structural engineers for
their high load bearing capacity, saving formwork, small
cross section over reinforced concrete structures, and high fire
resistance over the steel structures (ASCCS [6]).
Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) can be recognized as a
new kind of concrete construction, in which broken pieces of
waste concrete are used as aggregate. Due to the low strength
and elastic modulus, bad workability, high water infiltration and
high shrinkage and creep of RAC, they are only used as nonstructural concrete mostly (Ajdukiewicz and Kliszczewicz [5],
Sagoe-Crentsil et al. [18]). However, RAC is well recognized
in view of its low thermal conductivity, low brittleness as
Corresponding author at: Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua
University, Beijing 100084, Peoples Republic of China. Tel.: +86 10
62797067; fax: +86 10 62781488.
E-mail address: lhhan@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn (L.-H. Han).

c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

0143-974X/$ - see front matter 
doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2006.02.010

well as the low specific gravity that reduces the self-weight

of the structures. Most importantly, the use of RAC can save
natural resources and protect our living environment (Katz
[15]; Topcu and Sengel [20]). When the recycled aggregate
concrete is deployed in a new construction, the consequences
of its weakness need to be reduced or avoided. Recycled
aggregate concrete filled steel tube (RACFST), which places
the recycled aggregate concrete in the state of confinement and
protection of an outer steel tube, is less likely to be affected by
harmful environment factors, i.e. water, temperature and winds,
as experienced in the case of reinforced concrete structures.
In the past, there are a large number of studies on normal
concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns (Schneider [19]);
however, little research has been conducted on RACFST
columns. Konno et al. [16] studied the behaviours of
confined recycled aggregate concrete columns subjected to
axial compression. It was found that the new composite column,
where the progress of fractures is faster than in the confined
normal concrete column, has enough capacity to be utilized
though its stiffness and ultimate strength are smaller than those

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

1311

Nomenclature
CFST
CHS
D
e
e/ro
Ec
Es
f cu

Concrete filled steel tube

Circular hollow section
Sectional dimension, in mm
Eccentricity of load, in mm
Load eccentricity ratio, ro = D/2
Concrete modulus of elasticity, in MPa
Steel modulus of elasticity, in MPa
Characteristic 28-day concrete cube strength, in
MPa
Yielding strength of steel, in MPa
f sy
H
Distance away from the bottom support, in mm
HSS
Hollow structural steel
L
Effective buckling length of column in the plane
of bending, in mm
N
Axial load, in kN
NCA Natural coarse aggregate
Nuc
Predicted ultimate strength, in kN
Experimental ultimate strength, in kN
Nue
RAC
Recycled aggregate concrete
RACFST Recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube
RCA
Recycled coarse aggregate
SHS
Square hollow section
SI
Strength index
t
Wall thickness of steel tube, in mm
Mid-height lateral deflection of the column, in
um
mm

Axial shortening, in mm

Strain

Stress

Fig. 2. Layout of the column test.

(a) Circular specimen.

(b) Square specimen.

Fig. 3. A general view of the specimen after test.

Table 1
Steel properties

(a) Circular section.

(b) Square section.

Fig. 1. Cross-sectional dimension of the test specimens.

of the confined normal concrete columns. Konno et al. [17]

performed studies on the strength and the deformational ability
of RACFST, and the conclusions were that the deformational
behaviour of RACFST was similar to that of CFST and the
stiffness of RACFST could be predicted approximately with
consideration of the Youngs modulus of RAC, which was
lower than that of normal concrete.
This paper studies the behaviour of RACFST columns with
the cold-formed HSS tube being used. A series of tests were
carried out on 30 composite columns. The main parameters
varied in the tests are: (1) tube shape, circular or square, (2)
concrete type, normal concrete or recycled aggregate concrete,
and (3) load eccentricity ratio (e/ro , ro is given by D/2),

Steel
section

Dimension
of section
D t (mm)

Tensile
Yielding
strength
strength
f sy (MPa) f u (MPa)

Yielding
Modulus of
ratio
elasticity E s
Y ( f sy / f u ) (MPa)

CHS
SHS

-165 2.57
-150 2.94

343.1
344.4

0.81
0.76

423.6
450.5

1.79 105
2.07 105

from 0 to 0.53. Comparisons are made with predicted ultimate

strengths of RACFST columns using the existing codes, such as
ACI 318-99 [2], AIJ [3], AISC-LRFD [4], BS5400 [7], DBJ1351-2003 [8] and EC4 [9]. A theoretical model for normal CFST
columns is adopted in this paper for RACFST columns. The
predicted load versus deformation relationships are in good
agreement with the test results.
2. Experimental investigation
2.1. Material properties
Standard tensile coupon tests were conducted to measure
material properties of the steel tubes. Three coupons were taken
from each kind of steel tube, and for the square steel tube, the

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Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

Table 2
The mix proportions and properties of the new concrete
Type of
concrete

NCA
RCA
Water
W/C
Cement Sand
(kg/m3 ) (kg/m3 ) (kg/m3 ) (kg/m3 ) (kg/m3 )

28-day cube
strength, f cu (MPa)

Test-day cube
 (MPa)
strength, f cu

Modulus of
elasticity, E c (MPa)

Slump
(mm)

Normal
concrete
Recycled
aggregate
concrete

414

630

1170

414

630

878

414

630

585

207

0.5

42.7

50.8

2.75 104

40

292
(25%)
585
(50%)

207

0.5

41.8

46.7

2.61 104

35

207

0.5

36.6

44.1

2.46 104

33

Table 3
Specimen labels and member capacities
Section types

Circular

Square

No.

Specimen labels

D t (mm)

L (mm)

e (mm)

e/ro

Nue (kN)
Measured value

Average value

SLI (%)

CA0

-165 2.57

1650

1217

1217

2
3

CA1-1
CA1-2

-165 2.57

1650
1650

0
0

0
0

1158
1158

1158

4.8

4
5

CA2-1
CA2-2

-165 2.57
-165 2.57

1650
1650

0
0

0
0

1090
1123

1106.5

9.1

CB0

-165 2.57

1650

20

0.24

877

877

7
8

CB1-1
CB1-2

-165 2.57

1650
1650

20
20

0.24
0.24

817
855

836

4.7

9
10

CB2-1
CB2-2

-165 2.57
-165 2.57

1650
1650

20
20

0.24
0.24

795
805

800

8.8

11

CC0

-165 2.57

1650

40

0.48

615

615

12
13

CC1-1
CC1-2

-165 2.57

1650
1650

40
40

0.48
0.48

602
607

604.5

1.7

14
15

CC2-1
CC2-2

-165 2.57

1650
1650

40
40

0.48
0.48

600
602

601

2.3

-165 2.57

-165 2.57

-165 2.57
-165 2.57

SA0

-150 2.94

1732

1285

1285

2
3

SA1-1
SA1-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

0
0

0
0

1260
1273

1266.5

1.4

4
5

SA2-1
SA2-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

0
0

0
0

1252
1245

1248.5

2.8

SB0

-150 2.94

1732

20

0.27

910

910

7
8

SB1-1
SB1-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

20
20

0.27
0.27

842
875

858.5

5.7

9
10

SB2-1
SB2-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

20
20

0.27
0.27

825
835

830

8.8

11

SC0

-150 2.94

1732

40

0.53

740

740

12
13

SC1-1
SC1-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

40
40

0.53
0.53

686
632

659

10.9

14
15

SC2-1
SC2-2

-150 2.94
-150 2.94

1732
1732

40
40

0.53
0.53

625
655

640

13.5

coupons were cut from the flat part of the tube. The 0.2% proof
stress was adopted as the yielding strength. From these tests,
the average yielding strength ( f sy ), tensile strength ( f u ), and
modulus of elasticity (E s ) of the steel tubes are listed in Table 1.
Three types of concrete mixes were prepared. The mix was
designed for compressive cube strength ( f cu ) at 28 days of
approximately 40 MPa. In producing RAC, in place of natural
coarse aggregate (NCA), portions of 25% and 50% recycled
coarse aggregate (RCA) were added as coarse aggregate. RCA
were obtained by crushing waste concrete, which was taken

from failure CFST specimens, and sieving with a mesh square

of 26.5 mm. The compressive cube strength of the waste
concrete was about 50 MPa. The unit weight of RCA was
2470 kg/m3 , bulk density 1260 kg/m3 , crushing value 19.7%
and water absorption 8.43%. As for NCA, the unit weight was
2600 kg/m3 , bulk density 1420 kg/m3 , crushing value 15.3%
and water absorption 0.42%. All specimens were cast from one
batch of concrete. Several 150 mm cubes and 150 mm300 mm
prisms were also cast from the concrete and cured in conditions
similar to the corresponding composite columns.

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) CA series.

(a) SA series.

(b) CB series.

(b) SB series.

(c) CC series.

(c) SC series.

1313

Fig. 4. Failure modes of tested specimens (circular specimens).

Fig. 5. Failure modes of tested specimens (square specimens).

The mix proportions and properties of the new concrete

were summarized in Table 2. The workability of fresh concrete,
expressed in terms of slump values, was also summarized
in Table 2. It can be seen that a reduction of slump values

was produced in RAC by raising the extent of RCA in the

mixture. Although the slump value of RAC is lower than that of
normal concrete, there was no difficulty in achieving the desired
uniformity and subsequent compactness of RAC.

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Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) CB1-1.

(b) SB1-1.

(a) CA series.

(b) CB series.

Fig. 6. Lateral deflection curves of test specimens.

In all the concrete mixes, the fine aggregate used was

siliceous sand, and the NCA was carbonate stone.
2.2. Specimen preparations
A total of 30 composite columns, including 24 RACFST
columns and 6 corresponding normal CFST columns were
tested. A summary of all specimens is presented in Table 3,
where the section sizes and load eccentricity ratios (e/ro )
are given. The main experimental parameters are listed below,
along with the labels used to characterize each specimen:
Section shape (C = circular, S = square);
Eccentricity of load (A: e = 0 mm, B: e = 20 mm, C:
e = 40 mm);
Filled concrete type (0 = normal concrete, 1 = recycled
aggregate concrete containing 25% RCA, 2 = recycled
aggregate concrete containing 50% RCA).
For example, the specimen beginning with the label CB1-1
would be the first circular composite column filled with
recycled aggregate concrete containing 25% RCA, and its load
eccentricity is 20 mm.
Fig. 1 shows the cross section of the test specimens, where
D is the diameter or the width of the steel tube with circular or

(c) CC series.
Fig. 7. Axial load (N )axial shortening () responses (circular specimens).

square sections respectively; t is the wall thickness of steel tube.

The tubes were all manufactured from long cold-formed HSS
columns, and the ends of the steel tubes were cut and machined
to the required length. The insides of the tubes were wire
brushed to remove any rust and loose debris present. Deposits
of grease and oil, if any, were cleaned away.

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

1315

Prior to testing, the top surfaces of the specimens were

ground smooth and flat using a grinding wheel with diamond
cutters. A horizontal ruler was used to check for the flatness.
This was to ensure that the load was applied evenly across the
cross section and simultaneously to the steel and concrete.
2.3. Test procedures

(a) SA series.

(b) SB series.

The experimental study was to determine not only the

maximum load capacity of the specimens, but also to
investigate the failure pattern up to and beyond the ultimate
load. All the tests were performed on a 5000 kN capacity
universal testing machine, and the test data were collected by
an IMP data acquisition system.
The columns were tested as pin-ended supported (Han and
Yao [10]). The desired eccentricity was achieved by accurately
machining grooves 6 mm deep into the stiff end plate that
was welded to the steel tubes. For the pure axial compression
column, the groove was in the middle of the plate. The endplate
was very stiff with a thickness of 16 mm. The axial load was
applied through a very stiff top platen with an offset triangle
hinge, which also allowed specimen rotation to simulate pinended supports.
Both the endplate and the top platen were made of very hard
and very high strength steel.
Eight strain gauges were used for each specimen to measure
the longitudinal and transverse strains at the mid-height. Three
linear voltage displacement transducers (LVDTs) were used
along the specimen height to monitor the lateral deflections.
Two displacement transducers, at the end of the specimen, were
used to monitor the axial shortening, shown as in Fig. 2.
A load interval of less than one tenth of the estimated load
capacity was used. Each load interval was maintained for about
23 min. At each load increment the strain readings and the
deflection measurements were recorded. All specimens were
loaded to failure. Each test took approximately 30 min to reach
the maximum load and 1.5 h to complete. All the tests were
completed within 3 days.
2.4. Test results

(c) SC series.
Fig. 8. Axial load (N )axial shortening () responses (square specimens).

The concrete was filled in layers and was vibrated by a poker

vibrator. The specimens were placed upright to air-cure at room
temperature until testing. During curing, a very small amount
of longitudinal shrinkage of 0.8 mm or so occurred at the top
of the columns. A high-strength epoxy was used to fill this
longitudinal gap so that the concrete surface was flush with the
steel tube at the top.

All the test specimens behaved in a relatively ductile manner

and testing proceeded in a smooth and controlled fashion.
Typical failure modes of HSS columns filled with normal
concrete and recycled aggregate concrete were all overall
buckling. Fig. 3 gives a general view of the specimens after test.
When the load was small, the lateral deflection of the specimen
at middle height was small and approximately proportional to
the applied load. When the load reached about 60%70% of the
maximum load, the lateral deflection at middle height started
to increase significantly. Figs. 4 and 5 show the failure modes
of all tested specimens. It can be seen that, generally, for the
circular specimens and square specimens filled with normal
concrete and recycled aggregate concrete containing 25% RCA,
the buckle is formed near the center without reference to load
eccentricity ratio. However, for square specimens filled with
recycled aggregate concrete containing 50% RCA, buckling

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Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

Fig. 9. Load (N ) versus mid-height lateral deflection (u m ) curves (circular specimens).

is formed near the top or the bottom of the columns. This

may be explained by the compactness of recycled aggregate
concrete containing 25% RCA is similar to that of normal
concrete; nevertheless, the compactness of recycled aggregate
concrete containing 50% RCA is somewhat lower than the
normal concrete. And the constraining effect of a circular steel
tube is better than a square steel tube (ASCCS [6]).
During the test, the deflection curve was approximately in
the shape of a half sine wave. Specimens CB1-1 and SB1-1 are
selected to illustrate the lateral deflection development of the
composite columns with different axial load level (n) before
and after peak load, as shown in Fig. 6, where n is given by
N/Nue . The sinusoids with the same values in the middle height
are also shown in Fig. 6 using dashed lines. This indicates
the validity of the assumption of the deflection curve of the
member is a half sine wave, which is adopted in the theoretical

model of this paper and the literature (Han and Yao [11]; Han
et al. [14]).
Typical axial load (N) versus axial shortening () responses
of the composite columns are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It can
be seen that the ultimate strength of the columns filled with
recycled aggregate concrete is lower than the corresponding
normal CFST columns, and generally RACFST columns
undergo higher deformation than normal CFST columns.
The load (N) versus lateral deflection (u m ) responses of
normal CFST and RACFST columns are presented in Figs. 9
and 10, where u m is the lateral deflection at mid-height of the
column. It can be found that the type of in-fill concrete almost
has no influence on the shape of Nu m curves of the composite
columns. The ultimate loads (Nue ) of RACFST columns
are lower than the corresponding normal CFST specimens,
and the value of Nue decreases with the increasing of the

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

1317

Fig. 9. (continued)

load eccentricity ratio. No local buckling was found in the

compression zone of a steel tube before achieving the ultimate
strength. The ultimate loads (Nue ) obtained in the test are
summarized in Table 3. The axial load (N) versus extreme
longitudinal fibre tensile and compressive strain relationships
are shown in Figs. 11 and 12. It can be seen that both
normal CFST and RACFST columns show similar behaviour.
In general, the strain corresponding to the ultimate strength
increases with the increase of the load eccentricity ratio. For
circular specimens, the compressive strain corresponding to the
ultimate strength exceeds the steel yielding strain. However, for
square specimens, the strain is close to the steel yielding strain.
This indicates that the specimens with larger load eccentricity
ratio show more ductility. The composite action between steel
tube and core concrete can improve the performance of such
composite columns and the confinement of circular steel tube
to core concrete is better than that of a square steel tube.
During the test, the cross sections remain plane. Specimens
CB1-1 and SB1-1 are also selected to illustrate the compressive
strain, tensile strain and centroid axes strain development of
the composite columns with different axial load level (n)
before and after peak load, as shown in Fig. 13, where n is
given by N/Nue , and x represents the position of longitudinal
strain gauges at the mid-height section of the specimens. This
indicates that, generally, the assumption of cross-sections
remain plane adopted in the theoretical model of this paper and
the literature (Han and Yao [11]; Han et al. [14]) is reasonable.
Figs. 14 and 15 show the differences in the ultimate strength
(Nue ) of the columns with normal concrete and recycled

aggregate concrete containing different amounts of RCA, where

specimens with normal concrete were expressed as NC,
while 25% RCA and 50% RCA were used to indicate
the RACFST columns containing 25% RCA and 50% RCA
respectively.
3. Analysis of test results and discussions
For convenience of comparisons of the ultimate strength
of the composite columns with normal concrete and recycled
aggregate concrete, the strength index (SI) is defined as follows:
SI =

Nue0 Nue1 (or Nue2 )

Nue0

(1)

where, Nue0 are member capacities of the specimens with

normal concrete; Nue1 and Nue2 are member capacities of the
specimens with recycled aggregate concrete containing 25%
RCA and 50% RCA respectively.
The strength index (SI) so determined is listed in Table 3, in
the calculations, Nue1 and Nue2 are taken as the average value
of member capacities of the tested specimens.
The results summarized in Table 3 clearly show that,
generally, specimens with normal concrete result in higher
ultimate strengths. It was found that the ultimate strengths
(Nue ) of the members with normal concrete were 1.7% to
9.1%, and 1.4% to 13.5% higher than those of circular and
square RACFST columns containing 25% RCA and 50% RCA
respectively. Simultaneously, on the test day, the cube strength
of normal concrete was 8.1% and 13.2% higher than that of

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Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

Fig. 10. Load (N ) versus mid-height lateral deflection (u m ) curves (square specimens).

the recycled aggregate concrete containing 25% RCA and 50%

RCA respectively. The lowering in bearing capacity of recycled
aggregate concrete in-fill columns can be attributed to the lower
strength of recycled aggregate concrete as compared to normal
concrete.
The member capacities of RACFST columns predicted using
the following six design methods are compared with the column
test results obtained in the current tests, i.e.

ACI318-99 [2]
AIJ [3]
AISC-LRFD [4]
BS5400 [7]
DBJ13-51-2003 [8] (The equations were listed in detail in
Han et al. [12,13])
EC4 [9].

In all design calculations, the material partial safety factors

were set to unity.
Predicted member capacities (Nuc ) using the different
methods are compared with test results (Nue ) in Tables 4 and
5 for specimens with circular and square sections respectively.
For the eccentrically loaded RACFST columns, Nuc was
predicted by replacing the end moment with Nuc e in the
interaction flexure and compression equations of the above six
design codes.
Results in Table 4 show that ACI 318-99, AIJ, AISCLRFD, BS5400 and DBJ13-51-2003 are conservative for
predicting the member capacities of the circular specimens with
different RCA contents and load eccentricity ratio. Overall,
AISC-LRFD, ACI 318-99 and DBJ13-51-2003 give a member
capacity about 25%, 17% and 11% lower than the results
obtained in the tests. However, EC4 gives a member capacity

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

1319

Fig. 10. (continued)

Table 4
Comparison between predicted member capacities and test results (circular specimens)
No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Specimen

CA1-1
CA1-2
CA2-1
CA2-2
CB1-1
CB1-2
CB2-1
CB2-2
CC1-1
CC1-2
CC2-1
CC2-2

Nue
(kN)

1158
1158
1090
1123
817
855
795
805
602
607
600
602

ACI 318-99
(1999)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

AIJ (1997)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

757
757
736
736
757
757
736
736
562
562
549
549

1092
1092
1055
1055
733
733
708
708
580
580
562
562

0.943
0.943
0.968
0.939
0.897
0.857
0.891
0.88
0.963
0.956
0.937
0.934

0.654
0.654
0.675
0.655
0.927
0.885
0.926
0.914
0.934
0.926
0.915
0.912

AISC-LRFD
(1999)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

BS5400 (1979)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

1022
1022
988
988
574
574
563
563
399
399
394
394

1188
1188
1155
1155
715
715
698
698
512
512
500
500

1.026
1.026
1.06
1.028
0.875
0.836
0.878
0.867
0.85
0.843
0.833
0.831

0.883
0.883
0.906
0.88
0.703
0.671
0.708
0.699
0.663
0.657
0.657
0.654

DBJ13-51-2003
(2003)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

EC4 (1994)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

1067
1067
1039
1039
710
710
693
693
535
535
522
522

1132
1132
1091
1091
889
889
860
860
673
673
658
658

0.978
0.978
1.001
0.972
1.088
1.04
1.082
1.068
1.118
1.109
1.097
1.093

0.921
0.921
0.953
0.925
0.869
0.83
0.872
0.861
0.889
0.881
0.87
0.867

Mean value

0.831

0.926

0.747

0.913

0.888

1.052

COV
(Coefficient of variation)

0.128

0.036

0.106

0.092

0.035

0.055

about 5% higher than these of the measured ultimate strength,

and is an unsafe predictor. The design methods proposed by
BS5400 predicted a slightly lower capacity than the test results.
Overall, the proposed method by AIJ gives a mean of 0.926 and
a COV of 0.036, and is the best predictor to predict the ultimate
capacity of circular HSS columns filled with recycled aggregate
concrete.

Results in Table 5 clearly show that ACI 318-99, AIJ,

AISC-LRFD, BS5400 and DBJ13-51-2003 are conservative for
predicting the member capacities of the square specimens with
different RCA contents and load eccentricity ratio. Overall,
AISC-LRFD and BS5400 give a member capacity about 14%
and 10% lower than the results obtained in the tests. However,
EC4 gives a member capacity about 12% higher than these

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Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) e/ro = 0.

(b) e/ro = 0.24.

(c) e/ro = 0.48.

Fig. 11. Axial load versus extreme fibre strains at mid-height of test specimens (circular specimens).
Table 5
Comparison between predicted member capacities and test results (square specimens)
No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Specimen

SA1-1
SA1-2
SA2-1
SA2-2
SB1-1
SB1-2
SB2-1
SB2-2
SC1-1
SC1-2
SC2-1
SC2-2

Nue
(kN)

1260
1273
1252
1245
842
875
825
835
686
632
625
655

ACI 318-99
(1999)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

AIJ (1997)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

906
906
883
883
900
900
877
877
685
685
670
670

1227
1227
1189
1189
863
863
838
838
679
679
660
660

0.974
0.964
0.95
0.955
1.025
0.986
1.016
1.004
0.99
1.074
1.056
1.008

0.719
0.712
0.705
0.709
1.069
1.029
1.063
1.05
0.999
1.084
1.072
1.023

AISC-LRFD
(1999)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

BS5400 (1979)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

1180
1180
1145
1145
720
720
707
707
518
518
511
511

1165
1165
1131
1131
770
770
751
751
575
575
563
563

0.925
0.915
0.903
0.908
0.914
0.88
0.91
0.899
0.838
0.91
0.901
0.86

0.937
0.927
0.915
0.92
0.855
0.823
0.857
0.847
0.755
0.82
0.818
0.780

DBJ13-51-2003
(2003)
N uc
Nuc
N ue
(kN)

EC4 (1994)
Nuc
(kN)

N uc
N ue

1178
1178
1147
1147
821
821
801
801
632
632
618
618

1303
1303
1262
1262
993
993
962
962
780
780
762
762

1.034
1.024
1.008
1.014
1.179
1.135
1.166
1.152
1.137
1.234
1.219
1.163

0.935
0.925
0.916
0.921
0.975
0.938
0.971
0.959
0.921
1.00
0.989
0.944

Mean value

0.936

1.000

0.855

0.897

0.95

1.122

COV
(Coefficient of variation)

0.168

0.039

0.06

0.025

0.029

0.081

of the measured result, and gives an unsafe prediction. The

design methods proposed by ACI 318-99 and DBJ13-51-2003

predict a slightly lower capacity than the test results. Overall,

the proposed method by AIJ gives a mean of 1.0 and a COV of

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) e/ro = 0.

1321

(b) e/ro = 0.27.

(c) e/ro = 0.53.

Fig. 12. Axial load versus extreme fibre strains at mid-height of test specimens (square specimens).

(a) CB1-1.

(b) SB1-1.
Fig. 13. Distribution of the strain across the section of the mid-height of test specimens.

0.039, and is the best predictor to predict the ultimate strength

of square HSS columns filled with recycled aggregate concrete.
For comparison purposes, the load versus lateral deflection
curves at mid-height (plotted as dashed lines) predicted using
a mechanics model, which has been described in detail by Han
and Yao [11] and Han et al. [14] for normal CFST columns, are
compared with the test results of RACFST columns obtained
in current tests in Figs. 9 and 10. Due to page limitations,

only two figures for the comparisons between the predicted and
measured axial load versus extreme fibre strains are given in
this paper, as shown in Fig. 16.
In the calculations, the idealized elastoplastic stressstrain
model, based on the test results for both the flat zone and the
corner zone of cold-formed steel section, proposed by AbdelRahman and Sivakumaran [1], has been used for the square
steel tube, as shown in Fig. 17, where f sy is the yielding

1322

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) e/ro = 0.

(b) e/ro = 0.24.

(c) e/ro = 0.48.

Fig. 14. Influences of concrete type on the member capacities (circular specimens).

strength of steel and f sp (=0.75 f sy) is the proportional limit

stress. In this model, the strain hardening and the corner effects
of a cold-formed steel tube are taken into account. The curve
consists of three stages: the elastic stage (from point o to point
a), the elastoplastic stage (from point a to point c) and the strain
hardening stage (from point c to point d). The elastoplastic
stage is idealized using a bilinear representation between f sp
and f sy with an intermediate stress f sm (corresponding to point
b) being the half value between fsp and f sy . The modulus in
the strain hardening stage (E 1 ) is taken as 0.0075E s, where
E s denotes the modulus of elasticity of steel, and is taken as
206,000 MPa in this paper.
The equation for the increase in the yielding strength of
the corner zone is as follows (Abdel-Rahman and Sivakumaran
[1]):
f sy (corner zone) = 0.6[Bc (r/t)m 1] f sy

(2)

where, Bc and m is the factor related to the yielding strength and

the tensile strength of the steel, r is the inside bending radius of
the corner, and t is the wall thickness of a square steel tube.
It can be found that, generally, good agreement is obtained
between the predicted and tested results. The mechanics model
developed for normal CFST columns is thus acceptable for

the analysis of HSS columns filled with recycled aggregate

concrete.
4. Conclusions
The present study is an attempt to study the possibility
of using hollow structural steel columns filled with recycled
aggregate concrete in practice. Based on the results of this
study, the following conclusions can be drawn within the scope
of these tests:
(1) The typical failure modes of RACFST columns are similar
to those of the normal CFST columns. They were all overall
buckling failure. The ultimate capacities of such composite
columns decreased with the increase in load eccentricity
ratio.
(2) The recycled aggregate concrete in-fill columns have
slightly lower but comparable ultimate capacities compared
with the specimens filled with normal concrete. It was
found that, in general, the ultimate capacities of the members with normal concrete were 1.7%9.1% higher than
those of circular columns with recycled aggregate concrete
containing 25% recycled coarse aggregate and 50% recycled coarse aggregate, and for square specimens, the ranges
are 1.4%13.5%. The lowering in capacities of RACFST

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

(a) e/ro = 0.

1323

(b) e/ro = 0.27.

(c) e/ro = 0.53.

Fig. 15. Influences of concrete type on the member capacities (square specimens).

Fig. 16. Comparison of relationships of axial load versus extreme fibre strains at mid-height between calculated results and tested ones.

columns can be attributed to the lower strength of recycled

aggregate concrete as compared to the normal concrete.
(3) Generally, both ACI 318-99, AIJ, AISC-LRFD, BS5400
and DBJ13-51-2003 methods are conservative for predicting the strengths of circular and square composite columns
filled with recycled aggregate concrete. However, EC4

gives a member capacity about 5% and 12% higher than

the experimental result for circular and square RACFST
columns respectively, and gives an unsafe prediction.
(4) It was found that, in general, the mechanics model developed for normal CFST columns is acceptable for the calculations of RACFST columns.

1324

Y.-F. Yang, L.-H. Han / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 62 (2006) 13101324

Fig. 17. Idealized stressstrain model for square steel tube.

Acknowledgements
The tests reported herein were made possible by the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50425823), the
Start-Up Fund for Outstanding Incoming Researchers Project
of Tsinghua University, the Education Bureau fund of Fujian
Province (JB05060), and the Science and Technology Fund
of Fuzhou University (2004-XQ-19). The financial support is
highly appreciated. The authors also wish to thank Mr. Bo
Zhang, Mr. Xin Ye and Miss Feng-Ying Wu for their assistance
in the experiments.
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