Dynamic response of concrete-filled square steel tubular columns under lateral impact load at flat or corner zone

The dynamic response of columns under lateral impact is of great significance for guiding structural design under accidental loads. The present study aims to investigate the effect of different impact directions on the dynamic response of square concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns by conducting drop hammer tests at flat or corner zones. The main experimental parameters included hammer mass, drop height, indenter radius, built-in steel bars, shear span ratio, width-thickness ratio, and column sizes. The experimental results showed that the impact zone has a significant effect on the dynamic response of CFST specimens. Under higher impact energies, specimens impacted at corner zones were more likely to fracture on the tensile side of the steel tube than specimens impacted at flat zones. And the specimens impacted at the corner zone were more sensitive to the change of indenter radius. Smaller shear span ratios, built-in steel bar, and larger column sizes improved the impact resistance of tested specimens. The 3D finite element models were developed and analyzed by ABAQUS/Explicit to explore dynamic behavior further.