Structural filler filled steel tube column

A structural filler filled steel tube column, comprising:

• a steel tube having an inner face;
• a core made from the structural filler disposed within the steel tube;
• a first separating layer, interposed between the inner face of the steel tube and the core, for separating the core from the inner face of the steel tube so that the steel tube is unbonded to the core;
• axial stress reducing means formed in the steel tube and including an annular portion circumferentially extending completely around the steel tube for reducing axial stresses which develop in the steel tube;
• and
• axial load transmitting means, mounted to the steel tube, for transmitting an axial load, applied to the steel tube, to the core;
• wherein said steel tube comprises
• (i) a pair of tube pieces coaxially aligned with adjacent ends thereof spaced apart so that a ring-shaped gap, having an axial width, is formed between the adjacent ends of said tube pieces, said axial stress reducing means including the gap, whereby the axial stress in the steel tube is reduced by varying the axial width of the gap when the steel tube is subjected to an axial load, and
• (ii) means for coupling said tube pieces coaxially in series while allowing the tube pieces to be axially movable in relation to each other;
• wherein each of said tube pieces has an inner face, and wherein said coupling means comprises a joining tube having a first and second end portions, said first end portion being coaxially joined to the inner face of one of the tube pieces, the second end portion fitting coaxially to the inner face of the other tube piece so that the joining tube is axially slidable in relation to the other tube piece.

A structural filler filled steel tube column, comprising:

• a steel tube having an inner face;
• a core made from the structural filler disposed within the steel tube;
• a first separating layer, interposed between the inner face of the steel tube and the core, for separating the core from the inner face of the steel tube so that the steel tube is unbonded to the core;
• axial stress reducing means formed in the steel tube and including an annular portion circumferentially extending completely around the steel tube for reducing axial stresses which develop in the steel tube, the annular portion having a variable vertical length and being adapted to reduce the vertical length thereof when the steel tube is vertically displaced due to an axial load applied thereto;
• and
• axial load transmitting means, mounted to the steel tube, for transmitting an axial load, applied to the steel tube, to the core;
• and
• a joint tube, coaxially mounted to at least one end of the steel tube, for joining beams thereto, the joint tube having an axis wherein the joint tube has inner circumferential faces tapering toward the axis, and wherein the axial load transmitting means comprises the inner circumferential faces of the joint tube.