Experimental and numerical studies on seismic performance of two new flexural beam-to-column precast concrete connections with steel fasteners

Abstract

In modern construction, precast concrete structures are widely used due to their effective quality control, fast construction, and lower material costs. Maintaining the integrity of precast frames is critical for these types of structures. This research introduces two new precast concrete connections with steel connectors, specifically designed for use in high-seismicity areas. The first connection has an embedded steel beam that is welded to the column face plate. The second type of connection is a slip-critical bolted connection. These connections are suitable for all kinds of framed structures. One of the key advantages of the proposed connections is that they eliminate the need for any formwork or temporary supports during construction. Furthermore, the reduced grouting at the joint enables a faster construction process compared to traditional concrete structures. The performance of the proposed new connections has been compared with a similar monolithic connection. The specimens were constructed at half scale, and a cyclic displacement-controlled load was applied during testing. For each specimen, lateral strength, ductility, strength degradation, stiffness deterioration, energy dissipation, and connection rigidity were evaluated and compared with the in-situ values. Based on the analysis results, the first and second connections achieved ductility ratios of 2.5 and 3.5, respectively, compared to 3.0 for the monolithic connection. The strength of the precast connections was on par with that of the in-situ connections, and they demonstrated good cyclic behavior. The connection rigidity of new connections was comparable to that of a monolithic connection. The proposed connections satisfy the acceptance criteria of designing codes for use in areas of high seismicity. Numerical modeling of the connections was performed in OpenSees to calibrate the analysis. By considering the joint shear element in the analysis, a good agreement was obtained between the numerical and experimental results. © 2025 Institution of Structural Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.