Mechanical analysis of enhancement in tensile performance of thin-walled circular tubes by internal support

Fillers can improve the tensile performance of ductile tubes. Mechanical analyses of tensile tubes with filler have generally focused on experimental and numerical studies on concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) components, while mechanical performance of tensile tubes with flexible supporting fillers has rarely been investigated. In the current research, we have proposed a “steel tube+pre-stressed flexible internal support” structure. Meanwhile, strengthening of tensile thin-walled tubes with internal supports was studied in terms of stress and deformation. The trends of yield strength and ultimate strength of tensile tubes were determined and calculation equations of yield strength and normal ultimate strength of tensile tubes with internal support were derived. Strengthening coefficient variations as functions of radius-thickness ratios of steel tubes and elastic moduli of internal supports as well the optimized internal support p corresponding to maximum increment of tensile performance of tubes were also determined. It was experimentally verified that the initial supporting pre-stress of internal support on steel tubes could be achieved by cold shrink fitting technique. Experimental results revealed that the developed composite structure significantly enhanced the mechanical performance, fracture toughness, and energy consumption characteristics of tensile tubes. Hence, the proposed structure was confirmed to have promising applications.