Composite steel and concrete columns have been used in the tall buildings due theirs high-resistance and the possibility to reduce cross sections when we compered composite columns with reinforced concrete columns. There are a lot of types of composite columns. We are concerned with columns, which are completely or partially concrete-encased steel members. In practice, a lot of composite columns are relatively slender and in design the second - order effects will usually need to be included. A partially concrete encased steel cross-section was selected for laboratory tests of composite columns. According to the results of the experiments (total of 18 columns were tested in two series), we analyzed the effects of the second - order theory. The experimental results were compared with theoretical results obtained from the model developed in the non-linear software. The evaluation of the results is also shown in comparison with the general design method according to Eurocode 4, Design of composite steel and concrete structures - Part 1.1 General rules and rules for buildings.
