Title: Effects of grout and energy dissipating
bar properties
on a Type III grouted seismic connection
for precast concrete structures
Date Published: January - February 2019
Volume: 64
Issue: 1
Page Numbers: 31 - 48
Authors: Theresa C. Aragon, Yahya C. Kurama, and Donald F. Meinheit
https://doi.org/10.15554/pcij64.1-03
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Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of grout properties
and energy-dissipating steel reinforcing bar properties
on the performance of a grouted Type III connection
for gap-opening joints of precast concrete structures
subjected to seismic displacements. This Type III
connection offers the potential for a high-performance
yet simple nonproprietary, low-cost system that allows
Grade 60 (414 MPa) energy-dissipating ductile deformed
reinforcing bars to reach close to their ultimate
tensile strength and strain capacity under cyclic loading
in a short grouted embedment length. The use of short
grouted connections simplifies the construction of precast
concrete structures because protruding bar lengths
from precast concrete members can be minimized, and
field-grouting lengths can be reduced. The test parameters
investigated were the grout product, grout strength,
energy-dissipating bar size, and energy-dissipating bar
heat. It was found that the grout used in the connector
sleeve and low-cycle fatigue fracture of the energy-dissipating
bar can limit the deformation capacity of the
connection. Additional requirements should be introduced
in ASTM A706 to improve the low-cycle fatigue
performance of reinforcing bars intended for seismic
applications. Furthermore, it may be necessary to increase
the bond length of the energy-dissipating bar for
this nonproprietary connection to be used without the
requirement for a specific grout product.