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In this article, three hot-rolled steel combined short columns and a pure steel short column under eccentric load were tested. The failure modes and load–displacement curves of the specimens under eccentric load were reported. A finite element model was developed and validated against the experimental results, and good agreement was achieved in terms of failure modes, bearing capacity and load–displacement curves. Upon validation, a series of finite element models were employed for the parameter analysis over the parameter of concrete strength (30–120 MPa) and steel strength (235–420 MPa). The finite element parameters analysis results showed that the steel strength has limited effect on the reduction coefficient (1 + η) of the ultimate bearing capacity of specimens, whereas the reduction coefficient (1 + η) of the ultimate bearing capacity of specimens decreases gradually as concrete strength increases. Based on the finite element parameter analysis results, the N–M correlation curve and a simplified design method for the reduction coefficient (1 + η) of the ultimate bearing capacity of hot-rolled steel combined short columns under eccentric load are proposed. Good agreement is achieved between the design method and finite element analysis results, and the prediction of the design method is accurate and consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mutation of mass and stiffness between the superstructure and substructure of a hydropower station can lead to the whiplash effect on the hydropower house during an earthquake. This paper explains the mechanism of the whiplash effect based on the theory of structural dynamics. A Chinese hydropower house was taken as a test case to discuss the whiplash effect on this type of structures. An integral finite element model and partial models of the hydropower house were established according to its structural features, arrangement forms and loading features. The dynamic response and the whiplash effect of the hydropower house were investigated by direct time integration using the Newmark method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the completed experimental study, the structural response of steel tube confined RC (STRC) columns under pure torsion, bending-torsion and compression-bending-torsion load were investigated through the finite element method (FEM). Experimental results were used to verify the proposed finite element model and the verification results revealed that the assessment capability of the developed models was efficacious. The model considered the 3D equilibrium, compatibility, and constitutive laws of materials at the section and structural level. In addition, a parametric study was performed to visualize the influence of steel tube, section size, concrete, longitudinal reinforcement, stirrup, and axial force on the ultimate bearing capacity and the ultimate bearing capacity correlation of STRC columns. To this aim, a total of 72 STRC columns were modeled. It was noticed that the thickness of steel tube, the yield strength of longitudinal reinforcement, the diameter of longitudinal reinforcement (longitudinal reinforcement ratio) and axial force were the most crucial parameter, influencing the ultimate bearing capacity of STRC columns significantly. As well, it was overtly beheld from the study that the correlation curves of flexural and torsional capacity were similar under the influence of different parameters, and relevant equations of flexural and torsional capacity were proposed through curve fitting. • The finite element model was developed to investigate the behavior of STRC columns under combined load. • The parametric study was carried out and the most crucial parameters were figured out. • The correlation curves of ultimate bearing capacity were obtained through curve fitting. • The relevant equations of ultimate bearing capacity were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]