Numerical Analysis of CFST Column with PBL Stiffeners under Axial Compression

PBL stiffeners, made of thin-walled steel plates with circular openings and welded to the steel tube of a square concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column, can improve the combined effect effectively by co-carrying axial compressive forces and confining the concrete core. A numerical simulation study based on the previous test was conducted to study the ultimate strength of the CFST stub column with PBL stiffeners. Finite element models of CFST with different stiffeners were made and verified by the test results of typical failure modes and load–strain curves of specimens. The parameter study was conducted, including PBL stiffener detailing (i.e., material strength, stiffener thickness, opening diameter, and opening spacing). Finally, based on the study and analysis results, an ultimate bearing capacity prediction formula was proposed, which can reasonably predict the bearing capacity of a square CFST column with longitudinal or diagonal stiffeners, while the methods in ACI, BS5400, EC4, AIJ, and DBJ were more conservative.