Experimental investigations on composite columns: round hollow sections with embedded solid core section made of high‐strength steel

Due to price developments, steel composite columns have lost significant market shares to prefabricated reinforced concrete columns in recent years. Using high‐strength steel (HSS) in composite columns may offer a way of reviving the market for these kinds of columns. There are different ways of using HSS for composite columns, however, many are associated with the use of welds. Welding of HSS can lead to cold and hot cracks, while also causing high residual stresses which can lead to a decrease of the load bearing capacity. Hollow section composite columns with embedded solid core cross‐sections and using HSS may offer a way to solve this problem.

Round hollow sections with embedded solid core as a composite column have so far only been investigated for steel grades up to S460. Within the scope of German FOSTA research project P1501, a concept for a test setup is derived to investigate hollow sections with embedded solid core as a composite column made of HSS. The experimental results will be used as the basis for further numerical studies, which will be discussed within the scope of this paper. Based on these models, parametric studies will be conducted in the future to validate design concepts.