Seismic Behavior of Precast Bridge Column–Cap Beam Joints with Grouted Corrugated Duct Connections: Experimental and Numerical Study

Abstract

This paper presented an assembly scheme that was based on bundled bars–grouted corrugated duct connections. The scheme was used for the connection between the bridge column with bundled bars and the cap beam in an elevated subway station. Two 1/3-scale bridge column–cap beam joint specimens were designed and fabricated to verify the scheme. The test specimens included a precast assembly specimen and a cast-in-place (CIP) specimen. Pseudostatic cyclic loading tests were performed to investigate the flexural capacity, failure mode, and hysteretic behavior of the CIP and precast assembly specimens. The test results showed that: (1) the flexural capacity of the precast assembly specimen was close to that of the CIP specimen; (2) the energy dissipation capacity of the precast assembly specimen was weaker compared with that of the CIP specimen; and (3) the assembly scheme that was based on bundled bars–grouted corrugated duct connections was reliable. Finally, the finite-element model for the test specimens was established by calling the PQ-FIBER user subroutine developed by Tsinghua University with ABAQUS to study the seismic performance of the test specimens. Compared with the test results, the finite-element models could simulate the failure mode and hysteretic behavior of the reinforced-concrete specimens.