Hysteretic performance of precast beam-column connections fabricated with high-strength materials

Abstract

The current work attempts to characterize the hysteretic performance of precast 100 MPa grade HSC beam-column connections incorporating rebars with a nominal yield strength of 500 MPa. Four full-scale subassemblies (precast interior and exterior connections, and two corresponding cast-in-place (CIP) connections) were constructed and tested under reversed cyclic loading with a fixed axial compression ratio n of 0.4. The precast connections encompass precast column, composite beam (precast part and CIP part), and CIP joint core, in which, the longitudinal rebars in column and beam were connected using grouting sleeve and welding, respectively. Results show that four beam-column subassemblies suffered the flexural failure of beam end with no joint core spalling or cracking, and arch-shaped hysteresis curves and stable hysteretic behavior up to 3.0% drift ratio were captured. Precast beam-column connections could achieve an emulative (equivalent to CIP) design philosophy, concluded from the similar bearing capacity, ductility and dissipated energy of precast and CIP specimens. Moreover, an evaluation based on the criteria presented in ACI 374.1-05 validates the satisfactory seismic performance of beam-column connections with high-strength materials.