Confinement-based direct design of axially-compressed octagonal concrete-filled double skin steel tubes

Prior research has highlighted distinctions in the confinement mechanism for concrete-filled double-skin steel tube (CFDSST) columns with octagonal sections compared to circular and square sections. Current design codes primarily address the models for the design of square and circular sections in columns made of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST). This study addresses this gap by presenting a novel confinement-based direct design model specifically developed for octagonal CFDSST columns, encompassing both unstiffened and stiffened outer steel tubes. Initial data collection involved experimental and numerical results of axially-compressed octagonal CFST and CFDSST columns sourced from literature. Subsequently, ultimate compressive resistance, as determined by international design codes (EC4, ACI-318, AISC-360, GB-50936, T/CCES-7, AS/NZS-2327, CSA-S16, AIJ) and existing analytical models, underwent comparison with test results. The results reveal that existing codes and models generally offered accurate predictions, but their consistency across the entire side width-to-thickness (w/t_o) ratio range varied. The study proposes a new confinement design model for predicting the compressive resistance of octagonal CFDSST columns. Although the new model does not outperform existing ones, it demonstrates satisfactory prediction scatter throughout the w/t_o ratio and compressive strength (f_c^′) range, particularly excelling in high-strength concrete (HSC) and ultra-high-strength concrete (UHSC) scenarios. Notably, the proposed formula incorporates the influence of stiffening ribs on the confinement of the octagonal steel tube on concrete, making it applicable for practical design considerations for both unstiffened and stiffened octagonal CFDSST columns.