Numerical simulation analysis of axial compression performance of cold-formed thin-walled steel tube lightweight concrete composite columns

Abstract The combination structure of cold-formed, thin-walled steel and lightweight concrete is at the forefront of research in the field of prefabricated green buildings. A column calculation model was established using the software ABAQUS to analyze the effects of parameters such as aspect ratio, yield strength of steel, thickness of steel, and strength of lightweight concrete on the axial compression performance of the composite columns. The results indicate that lightweight concrete effectively suppresses the buckling of the steel pipes to improve the bearing capacity of columns. The aspect ratio has a relatively small impact on the ultimate bearing capacity of composite columns, but it has a significant influence on the timing of the occurrence of the maximum bearing capacity. As the strength of steel and lightweight concrete increases, the axial compressive bearing capacity of the composite columns significantly increases. The rise in steel pipe thickness also improves the axial compressive bearing capacity of composite columns. Still, with the failure of the core concrete, the area where the steel reaches the yield strength gradually decreases, and the strength of the steel is not fully utilized.