Experimental Campaign of a Low-Cost and Replaceable System for Passive Energy Dissipation in Precast Concrete Structures

Álvaro Mena,Ana Carla Jiménez,Jesús Mínguez,Daniel Miguel,Dorys Carmen González,Jorge Franco,Miguel Ángel Vicente

doi:10.3390/app10041213

Abstract

This research develops a new low-cost energy dissipation system, capable of being implemented in residential structures in developing countries with high seismic activity, in which the current solutions are not economically viable. These residential structures are entirely made of precast concrete elements (foundations, walls, and slabs). A solution is developed that consists of a new connection between a precast foundation and a structural wall, which is capable of dissipating almost all the seismic energy, and therfore protecting the rest of the building from structural damage. To validate the solution, a testing campaign is carried out, including a first set of “pushover” tests on isolated structural walls, a second set of “pushover” tests on structural frames, and a final set of seismic tests on a real-scale three-storey building. For the first and second set of tests, ductility is analyzed in accordance with ACI 374.2R-13, while for the third one, the dynamic response to a reference earthquake is evaluated. The results reveal that the solution developed shows great ductility and no relevant damage is observed in the rest of the building, except in the low-cost energy dissipation system. Once an earthquake has finished, a precast building implemented with this low-cost energy dissipation system is capable of showing a structural performance level of “immediate occupancy” according to ACI 374.2R-13.

Highlights

Precast concrete construction represents a very important percentage of all civil works in the world, given its enormous advantages from a constructive point of view
This energy dissipation system basically consists of a specific connection between the precast footing and the precast structural wall, formed by a set of threaded steel bars that connect both elements
Pushover tests were carried out on structural frames, composed of two precast structural walls placed over two precast footings and connected with a precast slab

Summary

Introduction

Precast concrete construction represents a very important percentage of all civil works in the world, given its enormous advantages from a constructive point of view. Precast concrete is especially interesting in developing countries, where it can be difficult to find enough skilled labour to perform in situ constructions. A significant number of these developing countries are in areas of high seismic activity. This is an inconvenience for precast solutions, since it is penalized by international regulations by granting lower reduction coefficients (R) for energy dissipation. This is due to the lower ductility of the connections

Methods

Results

Conclusion