Theoretical Analysis on Mechanical Behavior of Axially Loaded Recycled Aggregate Concrete Filled Steel Tubes

A new mechanical model for analysing the behaviour of axially loaded recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tubes (RACFSTs) stub columns is presented in this study. The model is derived from the typical elastoplasticity, the nonlinear elastic mechanics, and the properties of materials. Based on the mechanical model, a novel numerical program is developed. The mechanical model and the numerical program are adopted to study the effect of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement percentage on RACFST mechanical behaviour. The complete load-deformation relationship of specimens, the steel tube axial and circumferential stresses, and the performance of the confined core concrete and the variation of interaction are also investigated. The analytical results indicate that this model is able to capture the mechanical behaviour of RACFST. It is also found that the axial and circumferential stresses of steel tube change nonlinearly during the loading stages. It is concluded that the behaviour of the confined core concrete is significantly influenced by the confining pressure. The steel tube confinement could improve the mechanical behaviour of RAC effectively and the RCA replacement percentage slightly changes the response of core concrete. Finally, the relations between confined core concrete and confining pressure are analysed.