Finite element analysis of concrete filled steel tubes subjected to cyclic bending
Rosario Montuori, Elide Nastri, Vincenzo Piluso, Paolo Todisco
Abstract
This study introduces a novel Finite Element (FE) modelling approach for accurately simulating the behaviour of Steel Concrete Filled Tubes (CFTs) subjected to both monotonic and cyclic loads. It comprehensively addresses the challenges of modelling low cyclic fatigue in steel and concrete crushing, a critical aspect often overlooked in previous studies. The methodology is rigorously validated against eight experimental tests on circular CFTs, where it exhibits remarkable precision in capturing the complex interaction between steel and concrete under various loading conditions. The prosed modelling is able to accurately catch the degradation, the number of cycles leading to fracture and the failure modes. • Finite Element simulation of CFT specimens under cyclic bending loads. • Development and calibration of a FE model for cyclic tests. • Accurate data analysis and calibration for load-displacement curves. • Novel insights into CFT mechanical behaviour simulation. • Basis for optimized design of CFT