Experimental investigation of “dry” jointed precast concrete frame sub-assemblies with steel angle and tube connections

• Published in: Bulletin of earthquake engineering Vol. 18; no. 8; pp. 3659 - 3681
• Main Authors: Aninthaneni, P. K., Dhakal, R. P., Marshall, J., Bothara, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Assemblies; Beam-columns; Building codes; Civil Engineering; Computer simulation; Concrete; Concrete construction; Damage; Design parameters; Ductility; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Energy dissipation; Energy exchange; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Feasibility studies; Frame structures; Geophysics/Geodesy; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydrogeology; Mathematical models; Original Research; Precast concrete; Reinforced concrete; Reinforcing steels; Steel; Stiffness; Structural Geology; Designed to dismantle; Precast concrete; Dry connection; Demountable; Angle connection; Tube connection
• ISSN: 1570-761X; 1573-1456
• DOI: 10.1007/s10518-020-00837-9

Full details of steel angle and tube beam-column connections developed for a “dry” jointed precast concrete frame building whose nonlinear structural performance is aimed to be comparable to that of a cast-in situ/monolithic concrete frame building are reported. Hysteretic behaviour of the frame sub-assemblies with different angle/tube connection configurations is experimentally investigated in this paper whereas the numerical and analytical simulation results are reported in a companion submission. Structural performance of the tested frame sub-assemblies is evaluated by studying the nonlinear cyclic plots and the observed damage states in the connection region. Design parameters influencing the strength and stiffness of the tested frame sub-assemblies are identified by comparing the measured slips and load–displacement envelopes. The moment versus rotation response of the tested connections is classified according to the Eurocode specifications and the beam line method. The erection and dismantling processes of a precast concrete frame with the proposed angle/tube beam-column connection are also explained in brief. Feasibility of replacing a damaged beam with a new beam of the same (or higher) capacity and achieving the same (or better) performance compared to the initially tested frame sub-assembly is also evaluated. Based on the obtained evidences, it can be concluded that a jointed precast concrete frame with the proposed angle/tube beam-column connections can emulate a wet-jointed concrete frame only in certain aspects such as initial lateral stiffness and nominal lateral strength but not the energy dissipation, strength and stiffness degradation, and ductility.