Development and testing of precast concrete beam-to-column connections: Fid-Bau Portal

Development and testing of precast concrete beam-to-column connections

Choi, H.-K. / Choi, Y.-C. / Choi, C.-S.

Highlights • A new type of precast concrete beam-to-column connection was introduced. • All specimens showed flexural mode of failure with forming plastic hinge at beams. • The joints showed good seismic performance verified with ACI test procedure. • Joint cracks were controlled by using ECC as casting material. • Test specimens with outer type connection showed higher strength than inner type.

Abstract Five half-scale interior beam-column assemblies representing a portion of a frame subjected to simulated seismic loading were tested, including one monolithic specimen and four precast specimens. Variables included the detailing used at the joint to achieve a structural continuity of the beam reinforcement, and the type of special reinforcement in the connection (whether ECC or transverse reinforcement). The specimen design followed the strong-column-weak-beam concept. The beam reinforcement was purposely designed and detailed to develop plastic hinges at the beam and to impose large inelastic shear force demands into the joint. The joint performance was evaluated on the basis of connection strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, and drift capacity. From the test results, the plastic hinges at the beam controlled the specimen failure. In general, the performance of the beam-to-column connections was satisfactory. The joint strength was 1.15 times of that expected for monolithic reinforced concrete construction. The specimen behavior was ductile due to tensile deformability by ECC and the yielding steel plate, while the strength was nearly constant up to a drift of 3.5%.