Structural Behavior of Spliced Post-Tensioned Girders with Precast Box Segments

Abstract

It is widely known that the precast segment method facilitates quality control and reduces the costs as well as the construction period. The method, however, has limited applicability since it causes structurally unstable behaviors due to stress concentration in the joints. Against this backdrop, this paper suggested precast segment joints for the improved structural performance and experimentally evaluated the structural performance of the proposed joints in terms of crack pattern, mode of failure, strain, maximum load and displacement ductility. In order to improve constructability as well as structural performance, this paper suggests joints combined with shear key, post tension and steel rod and conducts static load tests. The test results showed that, in terms of maximum load capacity, the resistance of a girder where shear key and post tension are applied to joint details stood at around 86.4% of a monolithic girder’s and demonstrated better ductility behaviors than the monolithic girder.