Experimental and numerical study on the seismic behavior of T-section partially encased composite (PEC) columns

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Abstract

T-section partially encased composite (PEC) columns (abbr. T-columns) have great potential to resist seismic impacts, yet their seismic performance remains unclear, and the corresponding design method is lacking. This paper endeavors to study the seismic behavior of PEC T-columns using experimental and numerical methods. Nine specimens are fabricated and tested under vertical and cyclic horizontal loads to reveal the effects of axial pressure ratio (nd), horizontal loading angle (α) and steel web openings (SWOs) on the seismic behavior of the T-columns. Experimental findings reveal that the specimens exhibit analogous failure responses: concrete crushing and plastic buckling of steel flanges near the column bottom. With the increase of nd, the lateral bearing-capacity, flexural strength and lateral stiffness of the T-columns increase, but the energy dissipation capacity, deformability and ductility ratio decrease. It is also found that the SOWs can reduce the bearing-capacity, deformability, energy dissipation capacity and ductility ratio of the T-columns by 14 %-30 %, while it has no impact on the lateral stiffness. The specimens with α= 90° (i.e., under the moment around major axis) exhibit larger bearing-capacity, stiffness, ductility ratio and energy dissipation than the counterpart with α= 0° (i.e., under the moment around minor axis). A numerical integration program is developed and validated to predict the flexural strength of the T- columns subjected to axial load and bending moment. Finite element analysis outcomes show that the T-columns exhibit the lowest lateral bearing-capacity under α of 0°, and the highest under α of 60°. Moreover, the T-columns under α of 45° exhibit the lowest ductility ratio. To ensure sufficient ductility, the ratio ηd of the T-columns is suggested no greater than 0.5.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Structures

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