Mechanical and chemical bond for composite action of precast beams

Abstract

For utility of economical and practical construction, precast concrete is used due to its advantages such as reliability, durability, and higher quality. The appropriate selection of connection between the precast elements can have a significant influence on both the structural performance and long-term durability of such precast system. In this study, the effects of different connecting techniques on the performance of the precast composite flanged beams were experimentally and numerically investigated. The experimental program included testing up to failure under flexural loading conditions three groups of composite specimens: reference group, mechanical connecting group and chemical connecting group. The numerical assessment was done by using a finite element analysis to get a better insight and analyze the response of tested composite beams that available in the software package ABAQUS. The experimental results showed the advantageous effects of using mechanical connecting technique, as evident from improvement of the ultimate capacity or ductility of the precast composite beams. The results also showed that the predicted structural behavior using finite element analysis in terms of ultimate carrying loads, load-midspan deflection curves and crack patterns of the composite beams was in good agreement with the experimental data.

The Influence of the Flexibility of a Polymeric Adhesive Layer on the Mechanical Response of a Composite Reinforced Concrete Slab and a Reinforced Concrete Beam Girder

“…The application of adhesives in connections in TCC structures is extensively investigated in [25][26][27][28]. The first attempts in the bonding of the concrete-to-concrete elements of composite structures can be found in [29,30]. The advantages and disadvantages of epoxy adhesives in concrete-to-concrete bonds are presented in [31], but no flexible polyurethane solution is mentioned there; thus, the novelty of the present solution is valid.…”