Reliability of Concrete-Filled HSS Beam-Column Design Provisions

Abstract

Revisions were recently proposed by Tousignant & Packer (2022a,b) to the way in which concrete-filled hollow structural section (HSS) members are handled in CSA S16. These revisions were based on previous research, comparisons to experiments, and a first-order reliability method (FORM) analysis of existing provisions for compression and flexural members. Herein, this topic is further expanded by using Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) to determine the inherent reliability of existing and recommended design rules for concrete-filled rectangular hollow section (RHS) and circular hollow section (CHS) beam-columns. A reliability study is performed on the current CSA S16:19, AISC 360-16 and proposed design provisions. A representative set of concrete-filled RHS and CHS members are analyzed with variations in concrete strength, wall slenderness, effective length, and loading eccentricity. Using MCS, the reliability index (β+) of each is determined over a range of live-to-dead load ratios. Inherent β+ values are compared to the code-specified target.