Finite Element Modeling and Validation of Concrete‐Filled Steel Tubes Under Bending

Abstract This paper develops and validates a parametric finite element (FE) model capable of predicting the behavior of Concrete‐Filled Steel Tubes (CFST) under bending. The simulations are performed using ANSYS Mechanical APDL, and the results are validated against experimental data from three four‐point monotonic bending tests on CFST beams. These experiments were carried out as part of the research project STCC SIFECAT: IU68009746, funded by the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) through the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) – Generalitat de Catalunya. The FE results show reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The material models used include linear elastic behavior with linear strain hardening for steel, and the Menetrey‐Willam model for concrete. Additionally, a theoretical analysis is carried out to estimate the CFST maximum bending moment capacity. The paper presents and compares theoretical predictions, experimental results, and FE simulations, providing insights for improving the simulation approach and identifying directions for future work.