Experimental study on axial compression behavior of steel plate-masonry composite irregular columns.

An experimental study is presented on the static behavior of steel plate-masonry composite ( SPMC) columns consisting of irregular masonry columns with steel plates attached to all sides with a combination of steel bolts and epoxy adhesive. Six composite L-shaped and T-shaped specimens were tested. The influence of the bolt-spacing and restraint effect of the bolts were taken into account. The failure process and mode, load-strain curve and bearing capacity of composite columns were elaborated and analyzed. Test results show that the damage of composite columns always starts from the local buckling of steel plates. Critical buckling loads are different between the plates due to the different boundary conditions. The stress redistribution happens as columns approaches the ultimate load. Rather than the rectangular section, the irregular section is remarkably affected by the restraint of the bolts. Cold formed steel plates contribute to the ductility of the specimens. Design equations are given to calculate the compression bearing capacity of such irregular composite columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]