Axial compressive behavior of special-shaped concrete filled tube mega column coupled with multiple cavities

The compressive behavior of special-shaped concrete filled tube (CFT) mega column coupled with multiple cavitiesis studied by testing six columns subjected to cyclically uniaxial compressive load. The six columns include three pentagonal specimens and three hexagonal specimens. The influence of cavity construction, arrangement of reinforcement, concrete strength on failure feature, bearing capacity, stiffness, and residual deformation is examined. Experimental results show that cavity construction and reinforcements make it possible to form a combined confinement effect to in-filled concrete, and the two groups of special-shaped CFT columns show good elastic-plastic compressive behavior. As there is no axial bearing capacity calculation method currently available in any Code of practice for special-shaped CFT columns, values predicted by normal CFT column formulas in GB50936, CECS254, ACI-318, EC4, AISCI-LRFD, CECS159, and AIJ are compared with tested values. The calculated values are lower than the tested values for most columns, thus the predicted bearing capacity is safe. A reasonable calculation method by dividing concrete into active and inactive confined regions is proposed. And high accuracy shows in estimating special-shaped CFT columns either coupled with multiple cavities or not. In addition, a finite element method (FEM) analysis is conducted and the simulated results match the test well.