Experimental evaluation of column base connections composed by different grout types subject to shear

• Published in: Engineering failure analysis Vol. 120; p. 105090
• Main Authors: Abreu, Laura Maria Paes de, Carvalho, Hermes, Fakury, Ricardo Hallal, Rodrigues, Francisco Carlos, Caldas, Rodrigo Barreto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Anchor rods; Cement grout; Column base connections; Epoxy grout; Shear forces; Shear forces; Column base connections; Anchor rods; Epoxy grout; Cement grout
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.105090
• ISSN: 1350-6307

•The column base connection was evaluated through an experimental program.•Epoxy and cement grouts were evaluated in column base connections.•Stress-strain curves for the epoxy grout were defined through compression tests.•Anchor rods presented double bending curvature on the failure.•Epoxy grout improved the performance of column base connections. The column base connection is responsible for transferring the superstructure actions to the foundation and consists, typically, of a base plate and threaded steel bars or anchor rods. A grout layer is used for filling the clearance between the base plate and the top of concrete block, usually composed of a fluid-based hydraulic cementitious material with specific mechanical properties as high strength, negligible shrinkage, brittleness and delayed curing. Epoxy-based materials may be used as a more efficient material on applications with impact and dynamic loads or when a quick cure is required but as it is a recently developed material, its adoption occurs empirically. There are few studies about the use of this material in base column connections and mainly about its contribution to shear resistance due to the higher strength of this material. The international codes of steel and composite structures do not provide design guidance for the application of this material in base connections. Because of this lack of information, this work presents an experimental campaign about the behaviour of regular column bases, with a pre-installed steel anchor rod and grout layer composed of cement and epoxy materials, subject to monotonic shear forces.