Behaviour of Concrete-Filled Double-Skin Circular Hollow Section Cross Joints Under Axial Compression

This paper presents an experimental investigation on concrete-filled double-skin circular hollow section (CHS) cross joints under axial compression. A total of twenty-two right-angled CHS cross joints with different brace to chord diameter ratio (beta), inner tube to outer tube thickness ratio of chord (omega) and hollow ratio of chord (chi) were tested, in which eighteen concrete-filled double-skin CHS cross joints were studied for different shapes of inner tube of chord, two traditional empty CHS cross joints and two traditional concrete-filled CHS cross joints were tested for comparison. The joint strengths, failure modes, load-deformation curves and strain distribution curves of all specimens are reported. The effects of brace to chord diameter ratio (beta), inner tube to outer tube thickness ratio of chord (omega), hollow ratio of chord (chi), shape of inner tube of chord and concrete strength on the behaviour of concrete-filled double-skin CHS cross joints under axial compression were evaluated. It is shown from the comparison that the ultimate load and initial stiffness of CHS cross joints are significantly enhanced by strengthening the chord member with inner tube and concrete infill. Furthermore, the ultimate strengths are increased with the increase of the beta ratio, whereas the ultimate strengths are decreased with the increase of the chi ratio for all types of concrete-filled double-skin CHS cross joints. On the other hand, the ultimate strengths are enhanced with the increase of the omega ratio and concrete strength for all types of concrete-filled double-skin CHS cross joints, but the enhancement is insignificant. The corresponding finite element analysis was also performed and calibrated against the test results. The design equations are proposed based on the test and finite element analysis results for concrete-filled double-skin CHS cross joints, which are verified to be more accurate.