This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel concrete-encased column (CE) using small circular steel tubes filled with cementitious grouting material (GFST) as the primary reinforcement instead of traditional steel bars. The research involved three different types of reinforcement: conventional steel bars, concrete-filled steel tubes with 30% of the reinforcement ratio of steel bars, and concrete-filled steel tubes with the same reinforcement ratio as steel bars. Twenty-four circular concrete columns were tested and categorized into six groups based on the type of reinforcement employed. Each group comprised four columns, with one subjected to concentric axial load, two subjected to eccentric axial load (with eccentricities of 25 mm and 50 mm, respectively), and one tested under lateral flexural loads. To validate the experimental results, finite element (FE) analysis was conducted using ABAQUS software version 6.14. The experimental findings for concentric load reveal that columns with the second type of reinforcement, concrete-filled steel tubes with 30% of the reinforcement ratio of steel bars exhibited a failure load 19% lower than those with steel bars, while columns with the third type of reinforcement, concrete-filled steel tubes with the same reinforcement ratio as steel bars achieved a failure load 17% greater than the traditional steel bars. The FE analysis demonstrates good agreement with the experimental outcomes in terms of ultimate strength, deformation, and failure modes.
