Influence of Beam-to-Column Connections in the Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Industrial Facilities

Abstract

Past earthquakes have brought attention to the poor performance of precast reinforced concrete structures, especially relating to beam-to-column connections. The evaluation of different methodologies for the analysis of beam-to-column connections in industrial buildings is important. In the present work numerical analyses developed allowed the study of the effect that different story heights and connection properties have on frequencies, drifts, seismic coefficients and connection sliding. The results showed that the friction between concrete elements and the consideration of neoprene have a small impact on the drift demands in the columns and the seismic coefficients of the structures analyzed; on the other hand, the effect of steel dowel on the drift demands and seismic coefficients is significant. The comparison of models with different properties and connections allowed a better understanding of the parameters that affect the seismic behavior of precast reinforced concrete buildings the most and provide indications for building more accurate and efficient numerical models.

Seismic Risk and Finite Element Modelling Influence of an Existing One-Storey Precast Industrial Building

“…The seismic design and assessment of such buildings may be carried out following both traditional and displacement-based approaches (Biondini and Toniolo, 2009;Biondini et al, 2010;Colombo et al, 2016;Belleri, 2017;Torquati et al, 2018;Belleri and Labò, 2021;Bosio et al, 2020;Sousa et al, 2020). Considering the modelling strategies in the case of new buildings, specific considerations on this structural typology can be found in Magliulo et al (2018Magliulo et al ( , 2021, Gajera et al (2021), Bressanelli et al (2019Bressanelli et al ( , 2021, Rodrigues et al (2021), Zoubek et al 2014, De Stefani andScotta (2022). During past earthquakes, the main seismic vulnerabilities observed were related to the loss of support of beam and roof elements, to the failure of RC forks at the top of the columns, to the failure of dowel connections, to the overturning of RC cladding panels among others (Belleri et al, 2015;Bournas et al, 2014;Minghini et al, 2016;Nastri et al, 2017;Palanci et al, 2017;Savoia et al, 2012;Belleri et al, 2017;Scotta et al, 2015;Toniolo and Colombo 2012;Menichini et al, 2020).…”

Modelling and Seismic Response Analysis of Non-residential Single-storey Existing Precast Buildings in Italy

“…In general, the columns are installed into socket foundations subsequently filled with concrete or high-strength grout (Osanai et al 1996) or, more recently, fixed at the foundation base through grouted sleeves or mechanical connections (Dal Lago et al, 2016;Metelli et al, 2011;Belleri and Riva, 2012). The columns are conceived as pin-connected to the main beams (Biondini et al 2010, Clementi at al., 2016Zoubek et al, 2014Zoubek et al, , 2015Kremmyda et al, 2014Kremmyda et al, , 2017Rodrigues et al, 2021) and the roof elements are similarly conceived as pin-connected to the supporting beam (Dal Lago and Ferrara, 2018;Dal Lago et al 2019). The horizontal load transfer between these elements is generally provided by mechanical connection devices, mostly in the form of dowels.…”