{"title":"Axial compressive behavior of lightweight ultra-high performance concrete columns reinforced with steel and GFRP bars","authors":"Xiaobing Li, Wenbo Gao, Chunxiao Zhang, Zhijie Zhao, Qing Yin, Jinming Liu, Guanjun Wang","doi":"10.1617/s11527-026-03236-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study proposes a novel composite structural member, lightweight ultra-high performance concrete (LUHPC) columns reinforced with high-strength steel bars (HRB500) and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Axial compression tests were conducted on nine specimens to investigate their structural behavior. The specimens included three LUHPC columns, three high-strength concrete (HC) columns, and three ordinary concrete (OC) columns, with different reinforcement types (HRB400, HRB500, and GFRP bars). The results indicate that LUHPC columns exhibited significantly enhanced axial bearing capacity and deformability. Their ultimate bearing capacities were 1.7–1.73 and 2.69–2.79 times those of HC and OC columns, respectively. Compared with the GFRP-reinforced LUHPC (LCG) column, the steel-reinforced LUHPC columns (LCS4 with HRB400 and LCS5 with HRB500) showed better bearing capacity and strain compatibility. Their ultimate bearing capacities were higher by 8.16% and 12.2%, respectively. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was developed using a modified concrete damage plasticity (CDP) constitutive model for LUHPC. The model was validated against experimental results and demonstrated good accuracy in simulating the axial compression behavior. Finally, a modified formula is proposed to reliably predict the ultimate bearing capacity of the LCG column.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"59 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Materials and Structures","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1617/s11527-026-03236-9","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study proposes a novel composite structural member, lightweight ultra-high performance concrete (LUHPC) columns reinforced with high-strength steel bars (HRB500) and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Axial compression tests were conducted on nine specimens to investigate their structural behavior. The specimens included three LUHPC columns, three high-strength concrete (HC) columns, and three ordinary concrete (OC) columns, with different reinforcement types (HRB400, HRB500, and GFRP bars). The results indicate that LUHPC columns exhibited significantly enhanced axial bearing capacity and deformability. Their ultimate bearing capacities were 1.7–1.73 and 2.69–2.79 times those of HC and OC columns, respectively. Compared with the GFRP-reinforced LUHPC (LCG) column, the steel-reinforced LUHPC columns (LCS4 with HRB400 and LCS5 with HRB500) showed better bearing capacity and strain compatibility. Their ultimate bearing capacities were higher by 8.16% and 12.2%, respectively. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was developed using a modified concrete damage plasticity (CDP) constitutive model for LUHPC. The model was validated against experimental results and demonstrated good accuracy in simulating the axial compression behavior. Finally, a modified formula is proposed to reliably predict the ultimate bearing capacity of the LCG column.
期刊介绍:
Materials and Structures, the flagship publication of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), provides a unique international and interdisciplinary forum for new research findings on the performance of construction materials. A leader in cutting-edge research, the journal is dedicated to the publication of high quality papers examining the fundamental properties of building materials, their characterization and processing techniques, modeling, standardization of test methods, and the application of research results in building and civil engineering. Materials and Structures also publishes comprehensive reports prepared by the RILEM’s technical committees.