Prediction of strength of interior HSC column–NSC slab joints

Abstract

This study reports on the structural characteristics of column–slab connections using fibre-reinforced high-strength concrete. Compression tests were performed in this study on two column–slab and two isolated column specimens. For the tests on the column–slab specimens, vertical slab loading was applied to simulate realistic conditions at the column–slab joint. The main parameter investigated was the use of ‘puddled' fibre-reinforced high-strength concrete. This paper also investigates the behaviour of isolated column specimens, without the surrounding slab, to study the transmission of axial loads from the high-strength concrete columns through the column–slab connections. The beneficial effects of the puddled fibre-reinforced high-strength concrete on the transmission of column loads through column–slab connections are demonstrated. In addition, the highly reliable prediction model of the effective concrete compressive strength for interior columns is proposed using an analogy of brick and mortar in brick masonry. The proposed prediction model is verified by comparison with experimental results and various prediction expressions.