Abstract:In order to study the axial compression performance of steel pipe-UCA short columns, four groups of specimens (UCA-4, UCA-6, UCA-8 and C70-6) are designed to analyze the effects of concrete type, steel pipe wall thickness and strength on failure mode, load-displacement curve and hoop effect. Based on the results, a variety of axial compression bearing capacity calculation formulas are evaluated. The results show that the low hoop coefficient of UCA-4 and UCA-6 specimens presents shear-shaped failure, and the high hoop coefficient of UCA-8 and C70-6 specimens is waist-drum-shaped failure. The increase of strength and wall thickness of steel pipe can improve the ultimate bearing capacity and hoop effect of the specimen, and the increase of concrete strength can only improve the ultimate bearing capacity of the specimen with no significant enhancement to the hoop effect. During the evaluation of bearing capacity, the calculation errors are all within 10% according to the Technical Code for Concrete-filled Steel Tube Structures (DBJ/T 13-51—2020), which has good accuracy and engineering applicability. Based on the dimensions of the main arch ring of a deck-type reinforced concrete arch bridge, under similar axial compressive bearing capacity conditions, the UCA material filled inside can reduce the steel usage by 12% and the concrete volume by 23% compared with C70.