A Mechanical Plastic Hinge for Beam-to-Column Connections of Precast Concrete Structures

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <p>There is an increasing demand for precast reinforced concrete (RC) structures due to their undeniable advantages, such as rapid assembly, material standardization, and labor quality. The structural performance of precast RC structures depends not only on the quality of the precast members but also on joints and connections. In recent years, significant attention has been given to replaceable energy-dissipative devices for beam-to-column connections in precast RC structures. This paper proposes a novel energy-dissipating mechanical plastic hinge for beam-to-column connections in precast RC systems. The proposal is based on the results of intensive experimental and numerical studies conducted in the research project. The beam longitudinal reinforcements are connected to the joint using developed fuse-type mechanical couplers (FTMCs) that have energy dissipation capability. While the bending moment in the connection is transformed into an axial force couple and transferred by FTMCs, the shear force is transmitted through the steel hinge at the center of the beam. The cyclic behavior of the beam-to-column connections with the mechanical plastic hinge was experimentally investigated, resulting in a robust numerical model for the connection. The experiments demonstrated that the proper configuration of FTMCs in the connection enables reaching a 4% drift ratio.</p>