Finite element modeling of steel tubes filled with rubberized concrete under cyclic loading

In this paper, the mechanical behaviour of short rubberized concrete filled steel tubular (RuCFST) columns with square cross-section under cyclic loading is studied numerically. For this purpose, quasi-static analyses using commercial the finite element modeling package Abaqus/Explicit are performed. Firstly, a brief introduction and literature review on concrete filled steel tubes and rubberized concrete (RuC) are made. Then, the numerical models are described in detail with emphasis on the modelling of standard and rubberized concrete and of the steel under cyclic loading. An in-depth presentation of the numerical results is made which firstly includes a validation of the models by comparison with experimental results previously obtained by the authors and secondly a study on the effect of using RuC on the maximum strength and ductility of the columns. Finally, the main conclusions of the work are put forward.