DESIGN & BEHAVIOUR OF PRECAST WET CONNECTIONS IN BUILDINGS
ABSTRACT
Precast Construction is a mode of construction that is becoming popular day by day. It is an alternate to the conventional cast in-place construction. As majority of fabrication is done off-site the room of error become very small, the efficiency of work is unparalleled because the members are casted off-site, and the overall economy of the project is improved as less time is consumed in erecting the structure.
In precast construction, connections between the precast members are to be done on site and correct execution is required. So, the connection has to design accordingly and they must be robust, durable, and easy to install at the same time. Connection can be made in two way i.e. wet or dry. The difference between wet and dry connection is that dry connection is done mechanically by bolts or welds, whereas in wet connection type the connection is poured on-site.
The objectives of this work were:
- Design and develop a wet type beam-column connection (cast in place connection) for structural frames of precast members.
- Develop an Analytical Model for the wet type beam-column connection and perform parametric study.
The scope of this project was limited to development of indigenous wet type beam-column connection (cast in place connection) in structural frames of precast members. The effects of Earthquake loading on the behavior of the wet type beam-column connection was outside the scope.
Concept of wet type beam-column connection (cast in place connection) for structural frames of precast members was developed. Analytical Model for wet type connection was developed using the finite element ABACUS software. The results indicated that the wet type connection between the extended stubs of the precast column and the precast beam did not fail prior to the adjacent sections of the precast beam. The results of the precast beams with the wet connection were comparable to a satisfactory degree to precast beams without the presence of wet connection.