International Journal of Steel Structures Online ISSN 2093-6311

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-020-00372-y Print ISSN 1598-2351

Experimental and Numerical Study of a Tube in Tube Force Limiting

Device
Jafar Ghalejoughi1 · Mohammad Reza Sheidaii1,2   · Saeed Tariverdilo1,2

Received: 30 December 2019 / Accepted: 12 June 2020

© Korean Society of Steel Construction 2020

Abstract
The buckling and sudden capacity loss of the compression member can be prevented using a proposed tube in tube force
limiting device (TTFLD). In this way, the brittle post-buckling behavior of the compression member can be converted into
an elasto-plastic behavior. The TTFLD consists of two tubes with unequal diameter, one of which is placed into the other
tube. The outer tube operates as a casing for the inner compression tube and the flexural stiffness of the outer tube restrains
the buckling of the inner tube. The present study has experimentally investigated and evaluated a number of experimental
specimens. Next, numerical analysis of these specimens has been done using finite element software. Further, the behavior
of the tube in tube force limiting device have been investigated under important parameters such as the gap between the
inner and outer
( tubes ) (gap), the inner tube or main member slenderness ratio (λ), and the ratio of outer tube length to inner
tube length L2 ∕L1  , by extending the numerical studies to further examples. Using this TTFLD is an effective, simple and
economical method to prevent the buckling of compression member and can lead to a favorable increase in the bearing and
deformability capacity of the compression members with different values of slenderness ratio. The compressive strength
of the member will increase significantly, if the gap size is less than about 43% of the inner tube’s gyration radius, and the
length ratio is greater than about 55%.

Keywords  Force limiting device (FLD) · Buckling restrained · Non-linear analysis · Finite element · Post-buckling

1 Introduction The brittle collapse of compression members can lead

Structures consisting of tensile and compression members,
in spite of many advantages, such as high stiffness and low
weight, usually suffer from progressive collapse due to the
sudden buckling of the compression members. In these types
of structures, the buckling of compression member has a
decisive role in the collapse behavior of the structure. The
collapse behavior of the compression member is a function
of three important parameters including the yielding stress
of materials, slenderness ratio, and the amount of member
initial imperfection, which varies from very brittle to very
ductile.
* Mohammad Reza Sheidaii
m.sheidaii@urmia.ac.ir
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Urmia Branch, Islamic
Azad University, Urmia, Iran
2
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
to widespread collapse in the structure, so it is necessary
to control the collapse behavior of the compression mem-
bers. Methods such as force limiting device and buckling
restrained members can be used to modify the post-buck-
ling behavior of compression members and consequently,
improve the collapse behavior of structures. Usage of buck-
ling restrained members in braced frames improve the seis-
mic performance of the frame (ANSI/AISC 341-16 2016).
These braced can provide the earthquake lateral force with-
out buckling by creating lateral stiffness and it is necessary
to consider the compression member buckling mechanism
in the analysis (Wu and Mei 2015). In these frames, the axial
load capacity of the compression member increases to the
axial yield strength level while its load–displacement behav-
ior in compression and tension is approximately the same,
due to the removal of the compression member buckling. In
the buckling restrained brace, the central core is enclosed
in a metal casing filled with concrete and mortar, the cas-
ing restrains buckling of the core, while also providing the
possibility of the yielding of steel core under compression

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loading. Concrete and steel tubular case facilitate load bear-
ing by the core to the state of yielding while providing the
stiffness and required strength. Therefore, this system is
capable of absorbing far more energy than common con-
centrically braced frames (CBFs) can do (Iwata et al. 2001).
According to studies, the main member can be enclosed by a
hollow-square section filled with concrete or mortar (Inoue
et al. 2001; Watanabe et al. 1988), concrete panel, or rein-
forced concrete (Ding et al. 2009; Iwata and Murai 2006)
and all-steel casing (Satake et al. 2001; Narihara et al. 2000).
Since the core of buckling restrained brace is yielding, both
in tensile and in compression, it can absorb energy and
exhibit high ductility, indicating that the system is capable
of withstanding earthquake load (Dehghani et al. 2019). The
composite column is a structural element that is used both
for axial load bearing and for axial load bearing with flex-
ural moment. The most common are concrete-filled tubes or
steel profiles that have partially or completely steel encases,
which provide complete encase, compression strength, sta-
bility and hardness (Soebur Rahman et al. 2016).
Force limiting device (FLD) used in compression mem-
bers and is categorized as a force management method.
FLD prevents sudden failure of compression members.
In other words, it alters brittle post-buckling behavior of
compression members into elastic-perfectly plastic behav-
ior with a long plateau of member ductility (Hanaor and
Schmidt 1979, 1980). It can also be used to modify the
collapse behavior of compression members. The theoreti-
cal advantages of using force limiting devices were first
Fig. 1  Force limiting device and
connection type: a hydraulic
cell force limiting device, b
force limiting device in member
AB (Schmidt and Hanaor 1979)
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International Journal of Steel Structures
proposed by Hanaor and Schmidt (1979). They introduced
hydraulic type of FLD, which was consisted of a hydraulic
piston (Fig. 1) and showed that the application of FLD
can replace the brittle properties in compression mem-
bers with elasto-plastic properties (Schmidt and Hanaor
1979). Hanaor and Schmidt (1980) were used the FLD
proposed in three space trusses equipped with force limit-
ing device and results were compared with control truss
without the device. Results indicate that the double layer
grid equipped with FLD shows 23% higher loading capac-
ity in comparison with the control model as well as con-
siderably improved ductility (Hanaor and Schmidt 1980).
El-Sheikh (1999) conducted a parametric study includ-
ing types of configuration, dimension ratios, and bound-
ary conditions to investigate the effect of using the behav-
ior of the force limiting device on space truss structures.
Applying this behavior to critical members of the structure
increased the bearing capacity, improved the ductility of
the structural behavior, and reduced the possibility of pro-
gressive collapse. Also, the bearing capacity of the space
truss structures were increased when using more of this
behavior. When a compression member was equipped with
FLD, its behavior was assumed ductile with increasing
deformation under the same buckling load. EL-Sheikh did
not introduce a force limiting device, but he used the FLD
member characteristics in tension and compression in his
numerical study (Fig. 2).
Kim et al. (2013) proposed a system consisting of two
tubes of unequal diameters (42.7 mm and 76.3 mm) with the
(a)
(b)
International Journal of Steel Structures

Fig. 2  Member characteristics
in tension and compression (El-
Sheikh 1999)

aim of developing a force limiting device in case of yield-
ing before the elastic buckling of the steel member. The two
tubes were connected by a plate with different thicknesses
of 2, 4, 5, and 8 mm under two conditions: flat and with
a 30° gradient angle (Fig. 3). They examined the effect of
the thickness and the incline of connection plate parameters
on the efficiency and performance of the proposed FLD.
They concluded that by applying this system, especially
the inclined connection plate, the buckling of compression
members, particularly slender members which leads to struc-
tural instability, can be prevented and energy absorption
capacity of the structure can be enhanced.
Oh et al. (2013) proposed a force limiting device with dif-
ferent slots of width b and length L (Fig. 4). The slot widths
in FLD specimens of four and eight slots were considered
4 and 2 mm, respectively, while the slot lengths in each of
the two models were considered 25, 50, 75 and 100 mm,
respectively. Having explored the post-buckling behavior

Fig. 3  Overview of FLD with

out-of-plane plate: a out-of-
plane plate without incline, b
out-of-plane plate with incline
(Kim et al. 2013)

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Fig. 4  Overview of the FLD with slots: a longitudinal section, b 4
and 8 slot section (Oh et al. 2013)
of the specimens as well as effect of the number and length
parameters of the slot on the efficiency and performance of
the proposed FLD. They concluded that the application of
this system can guarantee the stability of compression braces
against buckling.
Kim et al. (2014) proposed a folded plate type force limit-
ing device (Fig. 5). They inspected this type of force limiting
device and investigated the effect of the angle parameter of
the folded plate. They found that its usage in compression
braces prevents the elastic buckling of the slender members
before yielding. And, use of this type of FLD in the struc-
ture promotes the energy absorption and the stability of the
structure.
Kim and Chae (2015) have also shown, by developing
force limiting devices, that the behavior of a new type of
FLD with reduced cross-section is different from previous
studies and more efficient. Poursharifi et al. (2017) proposed
an accordion force limiting device. This FLD was consisted
of three main parts, including the central accordion core,
the steel casing, and the Mero type end joint (Fig. 6). They
observed that this device has a significant effect on the col-
lapse behavior improvement of barrel vaults; addition of the
device enhanced the bearing capacity of the barrel vault by
two to three times, upon applying an accordion force limit-
ing device in two layered barrel vaults. Also, the collapse
pattern come out of state of the sudden collapse with snap-
through of the member.
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Fig. 5  Overview of the FLD with a folded plate: a details of FLD
with the angle of 120 degrees, b member with FLD (Kim et al. 2014)
Most research on force limiting devices and other devices
for improving the buckling behavior of compression mem-
bers has concentrated on the behavior and introduction of
a new type of device. In the present study, a new force lim-
iting device, known as tube in tube force limiting device
(TTFLD), has been introduced. Subsequently, the behavior
and performance of the proposed TTFLD have been numeri-
cally and experimentally investigated under the influence of
different geometric parameters of the member design.
2 Introduction and Specification
of the TTFLD
Usage of a tube in tube force limiting device can prevent
buckling by applying a ductile behavior to the compression
member and as a result, the maximum compression strength
of the member can be used. An overview of the tube in tube
force limiting device and its details have been presented in
Fig. 7. The tube in tube force limiting device includes a main
inner member that resists the applied axial force and an outer
tube acting as a casing for the inner member. The flexural
stiffness of the outer tube restrains the lateral displacement
of the inner tube. Indeed, the outer tube operates as a con-
tinuous outer restraint for the inner compression member to
resist buckling.
In this TTFLD, the buckling mode shape of the main
compression member is promoted from the first mode
shape to the higher modes shape, due to the lateral
restraints created by the outer tube. Therefore, by enhanc-
ing the buckling behavior, the force tolerated by the com-
pression member will be greater than that tolerated by the
International Journal of Steel Structures
Fig. 6  Accordion force limiting
device: a central core, b over-
view of force limiting device
(Poursharifi et al. 2017)
Fig. 7  Schematic view of
TTFLD: a longitudinal section,
b cross section
member without any outer tube and can be increased to the
yield strength of the member.
The main function of this TTFLD is to prevent the
global buckling of the member and to control the lateral
displacement of the main member in order to provide the
possibility of its yielding. For this purpose, the outer tube
is designed such that the Euler buckling load of the outer
tube is greater than the yield strength of the inner tube to
prevent the global buckling of the proposed force limiting
device (Mukai et al. 1993).
In this TTFLD, the compression force should be carried
by the main member (inner tube) while the outer tube pro-
vides lateral displacement restraints to resist buckling and
consequently provide the necessary ductility. However,
in ordinary and common compression members, both of
these tasks are to be handled by the compression member
itself. The advantages of this TTFLD are as follows:
(a)
(b)
1. It is easy to transport, install, and implement.
2. The simplicity in the design can ensure public accept-
ability which does not require expensive materials. This
can provide support for manufacturers.
3. It has no complicated manufacturing technology and
provides the possibility for producing parts easily on
site.
4. It is easy to replace the main compression member after
the collapse.
5. The proposed TTFLD is an economical design due to its
properties.
The proposed tube in tube force limiting device, by apply-
ing additional lateral constraints on the main compression
member, in a very simple and practical way, increases the
load-bearing capacity of the compression member from the
buckling load to the axial yield strength. The proposed sys-
tem enhances the brittle load–displacement behavior of the
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compression member to a desirable ductile elasto-plastic Experiments have been conducted using Autograph Uni-
behavior with the capacity that is near to yield strength. versal Testing Machine, AG-25TB model, manufactured
While in other types of force limiting devices, the yielding by Shimadzu Factory, Japan, with a capacity of 250 KN
of the member often occurs at a lower load than its buck- (Fig. 8). This machine has the capability of testing tension
ling load. As a result, the proposed system will have higher
strength, ductility and energy absorption based on the cor-
responding load–displacement behavior.

3 Experimental Investigation

Experimental study has been performed on five different

specimens in order to empirically investigate the perfor-
mance of the proposed TTFLD under various effective
design parameters. As shown in Table 1, they include the
normal inner tube without any outer tube (specimen S1),
the TTFLD with a minor gap between two tubes (specimen
S2), the TTFLD with a large gap between two tubes (speci-
men S3), a short-length outer tube (specimen S4), and a
long-length outer tube (specimen S5). At the two ends of the
outer tube, rubber hollow rings were used to keep the gap
between the tubes, as well as to have concentric tubes and
prevent the eccentricity.
In these models, the inner tube is made of steel and it had
a slenderness ratio about 80 with the joints at the two ends
of the main member being hinged. The geometrical charac-
teristics of the specimens including the length of the inner
and the outer tubes, along with the size of the gap between
these two tubes have been reported in Table 1.
Fig. 8  Autograph universal testing machine (AUTM)

Table 1  Geometrical characteristics of the specimens

Specimen Tube profile Outer diameter Thickness Length Gap Tube in tube force limiting device
Outer Inner (mm) L2 (mm) L1 (mm) T (mm) D (mm)

S1 D22.0T3.0 – 22 3.0 550 – –

S2 D22.0T3.0 – 22 3.0 550 – 2.5

– D34.0T3.5 34 3.5 – 530.0
S3 D22.0T3.0 – 22 3.0 550 – 7.5
– D43.0T3.0 43 3.0 – 530.0
S4 D22.0T3.0 – 22 3.0 550 – 2.5
– D34.0T3.5 34 3.5 – 183.3
S5 D22.0T3.0 – 22 3.0 550 – 2.5
– D34.0T3.5 34 3.5 – 366.6

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and compression on flat and round specimens and differ-
ent types of tubes. The axial load and displacement values
are recorded by a computer connected to the test machine
at different moments and then the axial load–displacement
curve is plotted.
A clear photo with schematic drawing of the testing setup
is shown in Fig. 9. The results of the experiments on differ-
ent specimens have been described in detail in the following
text.
3.1 Compression Member Without Outer Tube
(Specimen S1)
First, the inner tube has been tested without an outer restrain-
ing tube (specimen S1), in order to evaluate the effect of the
proposed TTFLD for improving the compression member
behavior. The experimental normalized load–displacement
curve for the axial compression, the respective Δ∕Δ − P∕Py
curve, have been shown in Fig. 10. Py and Δy represent the
experimental axial yield strength and displacement of the
inner tube in the yielding state, which have been 62.65 KN
and 1.7 mm, respectively (Py is the nominal yield strength of
the inner tube that can be defined using theoretical equation.
Py has been derived by multiplying the inner tube cross-
sectional area and yield stress of material. Yield stress of
material has been achieved from result of tensile test and it
is equal to 350 MPa). The general overview of specimen S1,
Fig. 9  Schematic drawing of the test setup
Fig. 10  Normalized axial load- displacement curve of the compres-
sion member without any outer tube (Specimen S1)
before and after the experiment, has been shown in Fig. 11.
The specimen has been buckled flexurally under a compres-
sion load of 56.87 KN and a 1.6 mm axial displacement.
3.2 Compression Member with Outer Tube
and Different GAPS (Specimens S2 and S3)
Two experimental specimens S2 and S3 were prepared and
subjected to axial pressure test, in order to investigate the
effect of the size of the gap between the inner tube and the
outer tube on the buckling behavior of the TTFLD. Accord-
ing to Table 1, specimen S2 of the TTFLD has been coupled
with an outer tube with an outer diameter of 34 mm, 3.5 mm
thickness, and 2.5 mm slight gap. On the other hand, speci-
men S3 of the TTFLD has been provided with an outer tube
with an outer diameter of 43 mm, 3 mm thickness, and large
gap of 7.5 mm.
The normalized axial compression load–displacement
curve of the three specimens S1, S2 and S3 have been shown
in Fig. 12. As can be seen, specimen S2 has presented a
better behavior than the other specimens did. Indeed, the
respective Δ∕Δ − P∕Py diagram indicates that the compres-
sion member is able to tolerate more force and its compres-
sion strength increases when an outer tube with a minor gap
is used.
Specimens S2 and S3, before and after the experiment,
have been shown in Figs. 13 and 14, respectively.
3.3 Compression Member with Outer Tube
and Different Length (Specimens 4 and 5)
In addition to the two previous specimens where the length
of the outer restraining (outer tube) was equal to the length
of compression member (inner tube), the experimental spec-
imens S4 and S5 with outer tube lengths equal to one-third
and two-thirds of inner tube length, respectively, were also
tested. The aim was to investigate the effect of the length of
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 International Journal of Steel Structures

Fig. 11  State of Specimen S1:

a before starting the test, b after
test

the outer restraining (outer tube) on the buckling behavior

Fig. 12  Normalized axial load- displacement curve of the TTFLDs
with different gap sizes
of the TTFLD.
According to Table 1, the size of the gap in the last
two specimens was selected as 2.5  mm, similar to the
specimen S2. The normalized axial axial load–displace-
ment curves associated with the two aforesaid specimens
have been shown in Fig. 15, along with the curve related
to the specimen 2 (where the outer tube length was only
20 mm shorter than the inner tube length). It is observed
that upon reduction of the length of the outer restraining
(outer tube) to two-thirds of the initial length in speci-
men S5, a decrease has occurred in its post-buckling load
capacity and ductility. However, by reducing the length
of the outer restraining (outer tube) to one-third of the

Fig. 13  State of specimen 2: a
before starting the test, b after
test

Fig. 14  State of specimen 3: a
before starting the test, b after
test

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International Journal of Steel Structures
Fig. 15  Normalized axial load–displacement curve of the TTFLDs
with different lengths of the outer tube
initial length in specimen S4, the system has been practi-
cally inefficient and behaved more or less similar to the
specimen S1 (i.e., the specimen without the outer tube).
Indeed, the respective Δ∕Δ − P∕Py diagram indicates that
the compression member is able to tolerate more force,
when a longer outer tube is used for lateral restraining of
the inner compression tube.
Specimens 4 and 5, after the experiment have been
shown in Figs. 16 and 17, respectively.
Evaluation and comparison of the results of the experi-
ments on five models under study suggested that the desir-
able anti-buckling performance of the TTFLD is directly
related to the length of the outer tube parameter and
inversely related to the gap between the inner tube and
outer tube parameter.
In the following, numerical studies are performed on
various specimens, along with detailed parametric studies
and sensitivity analysis of various parameters affecting the
behavior of the TTFLD. They are carried out by extending
the experimental studies on the limited number of speci-
mens mentioned above.
Fig. 16  State of specimen S4, after test
Fig. 17  State of specimen S5, after test
4 Numerical Investigation
The analytical specimens, with details and geometrical
characteristics presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4, have been
modeled in ABAQUS finite element software (ABAQUS/
CAE 6.13 Software 2013). The models include the inner
tube and the outer tube have roller and pinned supports at
the ends. In the modeling, the geometric imperfection value
is considered as a proportion of the first buckling mode of
the tube, such that the maximum initial lateral deflection in
the middle of the member is 0.001 of the member’s length.
In the finite element analysis of the model behavior, only
the inner tube is subjected to the axial compression load
without eccentricity. Also, the stress–strain relationship of
the materials is idealized as elastic-perfectly plastic. The
materials yield stress and modulus of elasticity have been
considered 350 and 210,000 MPa respectively, and Pois-
son’s ratio and steel specific weight have been considered
0.3 and 7850 kg/m3, respectively. A nonlinear analysis is
used to determine the axial load–displacement relationship,
with both materials and geometric nonlinearities considered
in the analysis.
In the TTFLD modeling using ABAQUS software, the
rubber hollow ring have been considered with a thickness
equal to the gap between the two tubes. The rubber hol-
low ring at the ends of outer tube with 3 mm in length is
used only to keep the space between tubes and that does not
have any significant effect on numerical results. Matching
the results of the numerical analysis with the experimen-
tal results illustrates this fact. To characterize the contact
behavior between the inner tube and the outer tube (due to
internal tube buckling) the features of the behavior model of
“Tangential Behavior-Frictionless” along the tangent to the
surface were used. In this study, contact between two tubes
without friction is considered. In addition, the features of the
behavior model of “Normal Behavior-Hard Contact” along
the normal to the surface are used. This feature along the
normal to the surface allow the two tubes in the contact area
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Table 2  The characteristics of the TTFLD with different gap sizes between the two tubes
Specimen Tube profile Thickness Outer diameter Length Gap (mm) Tube in tube force limiting device
Inner Outer D (mm) T (mm) L1 (mm) L2 (mm)

Specimen G-1 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.35

– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 870

Specimen G- 2 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 10.1
– D60.3T3.2 60.3 3.2 – 870
Specimen G- 3 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 18.0
– D76.1T3.2 76.1 3.2 – 870
Specimen G- 4 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 24.4
– D88.9T3.2 88.9 3.2 – 870
Specimen G- 5 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 36.3
– D114.3T4.0 114.3 4.0 – 870

Table 3  The characteristics of the TTFLD with different slenderness ratios (SR) of the inner tube
Specimen Tube profile Outer diameter Thickness Length SR Tube in tube force limiting device
Inner Outer D (mm) T (mm) L1 (mm) L2(mm) λ

Specimen S-0 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 80

– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 870

Specimen S-1 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 1100 – 100
D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 1090
Specimen S- 2 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 1540 – 140
– D46.4T6.0 46.4 6.0 – 1530
Specimen S- 3 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 1760 – 160
– D50.4T8.0 50.4 8.0 – 1750

do not penetrate into each other and can be separated after
contact. Also, the models under study have been created
using S4R, 4-node shell element, in order to solve the prob-
lem accurately. Further, two rigid plates with dimensions of
30 × 30 mm2 have been used at the two ends of the inner tube
in order to apply the axial load. Boundary conditions in the
tube in tube system at one end is pinned and at the other end
is roller. To apply the load as Displacement-Control, at the
center of the hypothetical rigid plate at the two ends of the
inner tube, a point is considered as the reference point (RP).
All nodes at the end section of the inner tube at each of the
two ends of the tube is bound to the reference point (RP) and
displacement only along the longitudinal axis at one end of
the tube (roller sopprt) is allowed (Fig. 18).
The Newton–Raphson iterative method has been used
to solve the finite element equations. The modified Riks
method based on Arc-Length method has been employed
to overcome thedivergense problem of this method in the
vicinty of the limit point (Riks 1979). An example of mesh-
ing the models has been displayed in Fig. 19.

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Table 4  The characteristics of the TTFLD with different outer tube length to inner tube length ratios
Specimen Tube profile Outer diameter Thickness Length Length ratio Tube in tube force limiting device
Inner Outer D (mm) T (mm) L1 (mm) L2 (mm) L2 ∕L1

Specimen L-0 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 1

– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 870

Specimen L- 1 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.25
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 220
Specimen L- 2 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.33
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 294
Specimen L- 3 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.42
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 370
Specimen L- 4 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.55
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 484
Specimen L- 5 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.60
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 528
Specimen L- 6 D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.67
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 590
Specimen SP D33.7T2.6 – 33.7 2.6 880 – 0.00
– D42.4T4.0 42.4 4.0 – 0

A numerical model has been provided and analyzed
for specimens 1, 2 and 3 (with the characteristics given in
Table 1) in order to validate the finite element modeling
method. The normalized axial load–displacement variation
1. The gap between inner and outer tube (gap)
2. Slenderness ratio of the inner tube (λ)
3. The ratio (of the length of outer tube to the length of
inner tube L2 ∕L1
)

curves of these three specimens in the numerical and experi-

mental analysis have been shown in Fig. 20. The acceptable
consistency of the numerical and experimental results con-
firms the validity and accuracy of the finite element mod-
eling. As such, it is possible to investigate different speci-
mens with different parameters without experimentation, by
providing an appropriate numerical model.
5 Sensitivity Analysis to Design Parameters
Having validated the finite element modeling introduced in
the previous section, it is now possible to study the axial
load–displacement behavior of the proposed TTFLD for
changes in various parameters affecting the design, only by
conducting a numerical analysis. The effect of the following
parameters has been evaluated on the buckling behavior and
compression strength of the TTFLD:
5.1 The Gap Parameter Between Inner and Outer
Tube
To investigate the effect of the gap parameter between the
inner and outer tube, five different specimens of the tube
in tube including Specimen G-1, Specimen G-2, Speci-
men G-3, Specimen G-4, and Specimen G-5 with geomet-
ric characteristics presented in Table 2 have been numeri-
cally modeled. The gap size of these specimens, based on
the existing tube profiles, were 0.35, 10.1, 18.0, 24.4, and
36.2 mm, respectively. The normalized axial load–displace-
ment curves for these five specimens have been shown in
Fig. 21. According to Fig. 20, it can be seen that the type of
buckling behavior, compression strength, and deformation
of the TTFLD change by altering the gap size. As expected,
as the gap between the two tubes decreases, the efficiency
of the outer tube as the casing for the inner tube grows in
the TTFLD.

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 International Journal of Steel Structures

Fig. 18  Boundary conditions of
TTFLD
In specimen G-1, with a minimum gap, the TTFLD had
the best performance in controlling the buckling of the com-
pression member. As the gap between the inner and outer
tubes (gap) increases, the effective length of buckling in the
inner tube increases, and consequently the TTFLD loses its
efficiency.
According to the results of Fig. 21, it is possible to deter-
mine the minimum gap between the outer and inner tube,
for effective performance of the TTFLD. Therefore, it can
be stated that the compression strength of the TTFLD is
inversely related to the gap between the inner and outer tube.
Figure 22 displays the direct relationship between the
gap ratio parameter (the ratio of the gap size to the gyration
radius of the inner tube) and the compression strength of the
TTFLD. When this ratio drops, the compression strength of
the system grows significantly. As a result, if this ratio is
about 43% or less, the proposed TTFLD has the necessary
efficiency in controlling the buckling of the compression
member and provide adequate and sufficient constraints
for making a complete compression yield in the member’s
cross-section.

5.2 The Slenderness Ratio Parameter of the Inner

Tube (λ)

Four specimens with different slenderness ratios of 80,

100, 140 and 160 were modeled and numerically analyzed
to investigate the effect of slenderness ratios’ parameter of
the inner tube. The geometrical characteristics of these four
specimens have been presented in Table 3. The normalized
axial load–displacement curves for these four specimens
have been shown in Fig. 23.
Considering that the application of the TTFLD eliminates
the buckling phenomenon and causes the yielding of the
inner tube, despite the changes in the slenderness ratio of the
main member (inner tube) in these specimens, it is observed
that the proposed TTFLD is capable of supplying the nec-
essary restraints for compression yielding where the load
capacity of the specimens is almost the same.

5.3 The Length of the Outer Tube to the Length

of Inner Tube Ratio Parameter L2 ∕L1
( )

Given the higher sensitivity of this parameter, eight speci-

Fig. 19  The meshing model
mens with different ratios of outer tube length to inner
tube length, 0.0, 0.25, 0.33, 0.42, 0.55, 0.60, 0.67 and 1.0
respectively, have been modeled and numerically analyzed.
The aim is to investigate the effect of the outer tube length
parameter on the TTFLD behavior.
The details and geometrical characteristics of the afore-
said specimens have been reported in Table  4. The nor-
malized axial load–displacement curves for these eight
specimens have been shown in Fig. 24. As can be seen, by

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International Journal of Steel Structures

Fig. 20  Normalized axial
load–displacement curves of
the specimens in numerical and
experimental modeling: a com-
pression member without outer
tube (Specimen S1), b compres-
sion member with overall outer
tube and slight gap (Specimen
S2), c compression member
with an overall outer tube and
high gap (Specimen S3)

Fig. 22  The curve of the normalized compression strength and gap

Fig. 21  Normalized axial load–displacement curve of the TTFLD for ratio parameter
different gaps

changing the outer tube length to inner tube ratio, there is
a significant change in the type of buckling behavior, com-
pression strength, and system ductility. As expected, as this
length ratio increases, so does the efficiency of the outer
tube as the restraint for the inner tube in the system. In the
specimens with outer tube length to inner tube length ratios
of 60, 67 and 100%, the TTFLD has a desirable performance
in controlling the buckling of the member. However, in the
specimens with the length ratios of 25, 33, 42 and 50%,
the TTFLD is not so. Therefore, it can be stated that the
compression strength of the TTFLD is directly associated
to the outer tube length to inner tube length ratio.
According to the results of Fig. 24, it is possible to
estimate the minimum length required for the outer tube
for effective performance in the TTFLD. The relationship
between the length ratio and the compression strength of
the tube in tube force limiting device has been shown in
Fig. 25. When this ratio is greater than 55%, the compres-
sion strength of the TTFLD grows significantly and the
TTFLD finds the desirable performance in controlling the

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Fig. 23  Normalized axial load- displacement curve of the TTFLD for
different slenderness ratios of the inner tube
Fig. 24  Normalized axial load- displacement of the TTFLD for dif-
ferent outer tube length to inner tube length ratios
Fig. 25  The curve of the normalized compression strength and outer
tube length to inner tube length ratios
buckling of the compression member. On the other hand,
if this ratio is less than 55%, the proposed tube in tube
force limiting device would be inefficient in controlling
the buckling of the compression member and providing
adequate and sufficient constraints for complete compres-
sion yield at the member’s cross-section.
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International Journal of Steel Structures
6 Summary and Conclusions
Preventing the buckling of compression member plays a key
role in improving the collapse behavior of structures. In this
study, a new tube in tube force limiting device was intro-
duced to prevent the buckling and sudden capacity loss of
the compression member. The TTFLD included a main inner
compression member and an outer tube operating as a casing
for the inner compression tube member. Further, the flexural
strength of the outer tube restrained the lateral displacement
and consequently the buckling of the inner tube.
The behavior and performance of the tube in tube force
limiting device were examined for changes in effective
parameters including the gap between the inner and outer
tube (gap), the slenderness ratio of the inner(tube (λ),
) and the
outer tube length to inner tube length ratio L2 ∕L1 .
The results of experimental and numerical studies
revealed that when the ratio of the gap size to the radius
of inner tube gyration was about 43% or less, and the outer
tube length to inner tube length ratio was greater than about
55% of the compression member length, the tube in tube
force limiting device eliminated the buckling phenome-
non, yielded the inner tube, and enhanced the compression
strength. It was especially more sensible when the outer tube
covered the length of the inner tube.
Use of a tube in tube force limiting device is an effective
method in preventing the buckling of the compression mem-
ber and consequently in improving the collapse behavior of
the structure. Other advantages of the TTFLDs include sim-
plification in design, easy provision and installation, being
economical and no need for expensive materials or com-
plicated manufacturing technology. Given the desirability
of the results obtained for the specimens in this research,
collapses can be prevented especially in structures such as
space structures (progressive collapse), by applying the tube
in tube force limiting device. Also, the results of this study
can be used for members with a shorter buckling length such
as longitudinal compression reinforcements which are under
strains caused by large deformations.
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