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CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT: LOW LOSS PRECAST CONCRETE FRAME

BUILDINGS WITH STEEL CONNECTIONS

Conference Paper · March 2014

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CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT: LOW LOSS
PRECAST CONCRETE FRAME BUILDINGS WITH
STEEL CONNECTIONS

P.K. Aninthaneni, R.P. Dhakal

Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of 2014 NZSEE
Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Conference

ABSTRACT: Monolithic reinforced concrete (RC) frames and conventional pre-cast

concrete structural systems are prone to develop severe damage under high seismic
excitations, which makes buildings using these systems less sustainable because of the
downtime and repair cost required to fully restore the functionality of the damaged
building. For this reason, researchers are exploring alternate RC building systems that
minimize the downtime and seismic losses.
In this paper, schematic development of a sustainable demountable precast RC frame
system, in which the precast members are connected with steel angles/plates,steel
tubes/plates and high strength friction grip (HSFG) bolts, is discussed. The concept of this
system allows a mechanical pin to be used in the gravity frame connections such that only
the seismic frames share the lateral force imposed by earthquakes and the gravity frames
do not damage at all in earthquakes. In the proposed precast structural system, damaged
structural elements in seismic frames can be easily replaced with new ones; thereby
rendering it a definitely repairable and low loss system, despite not being a damage
avoidance solution. The load transfer mechanism from the weak beam to the strong
column through the connection is explained and a model is proposed to analyse the
connections. Pros and cons of the proposed precast framing system and its application in
practice are also discussed in the paper.

1 INTRODUCTION
In modern world, concrete has dominated the construction sector because of its availability and
material properties. Concrete structures are constructed in two ways: cast-in-situ and precast. Precast
concrete structures can be defined as structures where majority of structural components are
standardized and produced in concrete yards away from the site and then transported to the site for
assembly. Precast concrete construction is being adopted in many countries for its potential
advantages. The performance of precast structural system in resisting lateral loads depends on the
behaviour of connections. The implementation of innovative ideas for connecting precast elements
together, and subsequent verification through experimental procedures, has resulted in significant
advances for the precast concrete industry in seismic regions of the world in the past two decades. For
example, in New Zealand precast concrete has been used in moment resisting frames since the 1980s
(Park 1990).
Structural behaviour of precast structures differs from monolithic cast-in-situ concrete structures.
From a general point of view, there are two alternatives to design precast structures. One choice is the
use of precast concrete elements interconnected predominantly by hinged connections, whereas the
other alternative is the emulation of monolithic RC construction. The emulation of the behaviour of
monolithic RC constructions can be obtained using either ‘‘wet’’ or ‘‘strong’’ (dry or partially dry)
connections. A ‘‘wet’’ connection between precast members uses cast-in-place concrete or grout to fill
the splicing closure. Precast structural systems with wet connections must then comply with all
requirements applicable to monolithic RC constructions. A ‘‘strong’’ connection is a connection, not
necessarily realized using cast-in situ concrete, that remains elastic while designated portions of
structural members undergo inelastic deformations under the design actions (Bournas et al 2013).
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Generally “strong” dry connections are achieved with use of dowels or anchor rods, steel billets, steel
plates, and steel angles. Many researchers have proposed dry connections with different configurations
and experimentally validated and found that these systems can be considered as semi-rigid
connections which primarily depend on dowel action for force transfer from beam to column (Elliott et
al 2003, Mohamed 1992 & Negro et al 2012). To the authors’ knowledge, there is limited research in
the development of precast system with strong rigid dry connection.
The present research is focused on development of sustainable demountable precast RC frame
building system using “strong” dry connections consisting of steel angle or steel tube, stiffened steel
plates and pre-tensioned high strength frictions grip (HSFG) bolts. The main advantages of the
proposed sustainable precast frame building system are:
1. Quick to construct: Building system without use of cast-in-situ concrete, site formwork, and
can be erected in quick time.
The proposed system doesn’t need any cast-in-situ concrete; the connections between floor-
floor, floor-beam, beam-column and column-foundation are made using steel elements (i.e.
stiffened steel angle or steel tube) and pre-tensioned high strength bolts. This system can be
erected in quick time which leads to significant reduction in overhead project cost and
increased financial return due to earlier occupancy of the building.
2. Simple system: Building system is simple to analyse, design and construct.
No specialist knowledge is required in the analysis, design and construction of the proposed
precast frame building system. As the precise elements and connections to be used in the
system are simple and have been used in industry for several years, general builders can easily
erect the proposed system without much difficulty. In addition, the system does not require
very precise construction and fabrication tolerance.
3. Demountable: Building system can be demounted at any time during the life span of building.
The connections between the precast elements of the frame building are made such that the
building can be easily demounted when/if needed without damaging the components. The
proposed system enables financial savings through dismantle and reuse (rather than demolish).
4. Easily upgradable: Building system can be easily upgraded or strengthened.
The proposed building system can be upgraded if higher strength is required due to change of
building occupancy or change in design code/demand. Higher strength can be achieved by
replacing the weakest frame elements with bigger/stronger ones or by adding diagonal bracing
elements with little intervention (as the steel connection can be predesigned to accommodate
the bracing elements when/if needed in future).
5. Easy/fast to repair/Insurance compliant: System with easily replaceable damaged elements,
thereby making it an earthquake resilient building system and compliant to insurance policy
“like for like as when new”.
The damaged structural beams and columns in earthquakes can be easily replaced with new
one within short time (which leads to significantly less downtime loss); thereby rendering it a
definitely repairable and low loss system, despite not being a damage avoidance solution. The
damaged building can be recovered exactly to the original state (or stronger, if needed) in a
short time which leaves no room for ambiguity in terms of compliance to the common
insurance policy of “like for like as when new”.
This paper describes the conceptual development (including schematic layout) of the proposed
demountable precast frame building system, and available lateral load resisting options within the
proposed system. It also explores an analytical model for estimating the connection capacity.

2
2 PRECAST BUILDINGS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE IN CANTERBURY
EARTHQUAKES
In New Zealand, precast reinforced concrete moment resisting frames are very common since 1980’s.
In precast building systems, joints between precast elements are normally designed to emulate
monolithic construction so that the whole structure shows equivalent monolithic behaviour during an
earthquake. There are four ways of achieving equivalent monolithic behaviour in conventional precast
frames, which are shown in detail in figure 1.

Figure 1: Commonly used arrangements of Precast Members and Cast in Place Concrete for Constructing
Moment Resisting Reinforced Concrete Frames in New Zealand. (Restrepo,1992)
In system-1, the precast beam elements are placed between columns and seated on the cover concrete
of the previously cast-in-place or precast column below and/or propped adjacent to the columns. A
precast concrete floor system is placed, seated on the top of the precast beam elements and spanning
between them. Reinforcement is then placed on the top of the beams, over the precast floor and in the
beam column joint cores. The topping slab over the floor system and the beam-column joint cores is
cast-in-situ (Fib-27 2003). In system-2, the precast beams are seated on steel shims creating a
construction joint 10 to 25mm thick. Protruding column longitudinal bars pass through precast
preformed vertical holes in the beams and protrude above the beams top surface. The holes in the
precast beam elements are formed by corrugated steel ducting. The vertical ducts and the horizontal
construction joint at the bottom of the precast beams are grouted in one operation. A precast concrete
column is then positioned above the precast beam using grouted vertical laps or grouted steel sleeves
to connect the vertical column bars (Restrepo 1992).

3
In system-3, T–shaped, cruciform precast concrete elements or even multi-storey cruciform units are
used. In this arrangement the vertical column bars in the precast units are connected using grouted
steel sleeves. Cast-in-place connections of the beams for this system are identical to those employed
for System 2 (Fib-27 2003).In system-4, pre-tensioned precast concrete beam shell units are used as
permanent formwork for beams. The precast U-beams support the self-weight and construction loads
and act compositely with the reinforced concrete core when subjected to other loading in the
completed structure. Precast U-beams are generally not connected by reinforcement to the cast-in-
place concrete of the beam or column, the composite action normally comes from the bond between
the roughened inner surface of the precast U-beam and the cast-in-place concrete (Fib-27 2003).
Generally concrete moment resisting frames performed as expected in the Canterbury earthquakes.
Modern precast buildings in general did well in terms of ‘life safety’ and ‘collapse prevention’; with
the exception of two RC buildings (Uma et al, 2013). In the September 2010 Darfield earthquake,
modern precast concrete buildings reportedly behaved better apart from experiencing considerable
damage to non-structural elements and contents. However, cracking in precast flooring systems due to
beam elongation, damage to staircase elements and damage in gravity load elements due to inadequate
detailing to cater for the displacement demands were observed in some modern buildings (Uma et al
2013, Kam et al 2010 & Elwood et al 2011). In the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the
damage to the majority of modern buildings was technically repairable, but many of these buildings
were demolished based on financial viability of the available repair options. A full compilation of
vulnerability assessment of RC buildings in general in these earthquakes has been reported (Kam et al,
2011), but the authors are not aware of any report specific to the damage sustained by the precast
building stock.

3 PROPOSED DEMOUNTABLE PRECAST CONCRETE BUILDING SYSTEM

The basic objective of this system is to build a sustainable RC frame building system that can be
demounted when/if needed and easily strengthened to meet increased design demand due to change of
occupancy or change in design code, and in which damaged structural elements can be easily replaced
with new one after an earthquake. In this section, schematic layout of the overall building system,
geometric configuration of the steel connections and possible lateral load resisting options within the
proposed concept are discussed.

3.1 Schematic Layout

The schematic layout of the proposed demountable precast building system is shown in figure 2. In
this system, precast columns with steel end plate are connected to the foundation through mechanical
fix/pin joints; precast beams are connected to the columns using steel angles or steel tubes together
with steel plates and pre-tensioned HSFG bolts, precast floor is connected to the precast beam using
bolts and steel angles, and the precast flooring elements are connected using steel plate and bolts. The
connection between different structural elements and previous research in this type of connection
systems are discussed in the following sections.

3.1.1 Floor –beam connection

Figure 3 illustrates a typical connection between precast beam and precast hollow-core floor slab using
stiffened angle and bolts. The bolt connected to floor slab is removable and the bolt connected to the
beam is embedded. The steel angle on beam side is slotted to accommodate relative vertical movement
between the beam and slab. Similar type of connection system is also possible with other floor slabs
like flat slab, and Tee slab. Negro et al, (2012) investigated structural capacity of non-slotted floor to
beam connections using mechanical devices like dowels and couplers and drafted design guidelines
for these connections. Details of these connections and their analytical models can be found in
SAFECAST project report, PCI and CPCI guidelines. However, to the authors’ knowledge, slotted
floor-beam connections have not been explored fully.

4
 Figure 2: Perspective view of demountable precast frame concrete structural system

Figure 3: Steel angle connection between hollow core floor slab and precast beam

3.1.2 Beam-Column connection

The efficiency of precast concrete frames in resisting gravity and lateral loads relies on the behaviour
of beam column connections. Beam-column connections should be designed to transfer all forces.
Some connection configurations using mechanical devices are able to transfer only shear and axial
forces, these connection systems are called shear connections. Examples of shear connections are
corbel connection, and steel insert connection. Experimental results and analytical models of these
shear connection systems can be found in literature (Fib-43 2008 &Elliott et al 1996). There is limited
research in development of semi- rigid or rigid connections using mechanical devices. Elliott et
al,(2003) investigated four types of semi rigid beam-to-column connectors; namely welded plate
connection, steel billet connection, single cleat connection, and double cleat connection. It was found

5
that although the capacity and stiffness of these connections vary significantly, they can be treated as
semi-rigid connection in analysis and design without inducing too much error. Full details of such
semi-rigid connections using mechanical connectors can be found in Fib-43. Figures 4 & 5 show the
proposed “strong” dry beam-column connection using stiffened angles or steel tube and HSFG bolts.
The bolts are pre-tensioned so that the initial moment of resistance depends on the frictional resistance
developed between steel surface and concrete surface. Such a connection offers high moment of
resistance and rotational stiffness to ensure the connection remains in elastic state while the beams
(weakest element) reach their capacity. Figure 6 shows a typical mechanical pin connection between a
gravity load resisting beam and column, which ensures that the lateral loads are shared only among the
seismic frames. This enables the precast frame building system to be built as designed so that no
surprising damage is incurred in the gravity frame connection in future earthquakes.

Figure 4: Beam-column connection system using steel angle, steel plate, and HSFG bolts

Figure 5: Beam-column connection system using steel tube, and HSFG bolts

6
 Figure 6: Gravity load resisting beam connected to precast column with use of mechanical pin

3.1.3 Column-column and Column-foundation connections

Figure 7 shows a typical column-column connection and a fixed column-foundation connection which
uses steel end plate and HSFG bolts. This connection system is also called steel shoe splice
connection; they are capable of transferring high tensile force and bending moment, and allow
columns to be demounted and removed at any stage. Experimental results and analytical models for
this connection system can be found in CPCI guidelines, Fib-27, (2003) and Fib-43, (2008). Pin
column-foundation connection which uses a mechanical pin is also shown in figure 7. Such pin
connections are to be used not just in gravity load resisting frames to transfer shear and axial forces,
but they can also be used at the column bases of seismic frames to avoid the otherwise-inevitable
damage during earthquakes. This spares from having to replace the columns after an earthquake which
can be extremely challenging in tall buildings.

Figure 7: Column-column connection, column-foundation connection using steel end plate and bolts

3.2 Lateral load resisting system: Available options

The proposed precast framing system can be unbraced or braced as required to resist the lateral loads.
In case of unbraced frames, lateral loads are resisted through flexural behavior of beams and columns
whereas in braced frame lateral loads are transferred to foundation through strut and tie action. The
column to foundation connection can be designed as fixed or pinned connection depending on the
requirement of strength and stiffness. The three structural frame options for resisting lateral loads are:
(i) frame with fixed base: (ii) frame with pin base, and (iii) frame with pin base, shear only beam-
column connections and diagonal steel braces.

7
The load path in an unbraced frame with fixed base and pin base under external lateral load is shown
in figure 8. The fixed base frame offers high strength and stiffness compared to the pin base frame.
The capacity and stiffness of pin base frame can be considerably increased by addition of steel braces.
In a fixed base frame system, ground storey columns will be damaged along with beams in seismic
events, and they have to be replaced with new one after seismic events; whereas in a pin base
connection only beams (which are easy to replace) will be damaged. The qualitative comparison of
base shear capacity between unbraced frames with fixed and pin bases and braced frame with pin base
(which can be adopted as an option for new design or strengthening of a pin based frame) is shown in
figure 9.

Lateral load

: Plastic hinge

Figure 8:Precast frame with fixed and pin base

Frame with fixed base

Frame with pin base and brace
Capacity increase by addition of steel
Base shear capacity

brace
Frame with pin base

Roof displacement

Figure 9:Comparision of capacity with different frame boundary conditions

The third option available for resisting lateral load is to design the system as a braced frame with all
frame connections as shear only (i.e. pin) connections as shown in figure 10. In this system, lateral
loads are resisted through strut and tie action in braces. The load path from the roof to the foundation
is shown in figure 10 with color coded bar. This system can be designed to achieve the strength and
stiffness of an equivalent rigid frame with fixed base. Steel braces act as fuse elements in resisting
lateral loads. The choice of designing a frame with or without bracing can be left to the designer and
the owner depending on the desired plastic hinge mechanism and availability of bays for bracing
without disrupting the planned use of the building.

8
 Lateral load : Simple connection

: BRB Steel brace

: Precast concrete member

: Plastic hinge

Figure 10:Precast concrete frame with simple connections and Steel brace

3.3 Analytical model of the connection

Capacity design principle should be followed in designing the system; in particular to ensure the
“weak-beam strong-column stronger-connection” hierarchy. The load path from the beam to beam-
column connection depends on whether the bolts are pre-tensioned or not. It is assumed that the
connection capacity is limited by the frictional resistance and shear resistance of the bolts. Other
modes of failures like spalling of concrete, crushing of concrete near the bolts, bearing failure of bolts,
and bearing, tearing and block shear failures of the steel angle or steel tube can be avoided by proper
detailing. The HSFG bolts are pre-tensioned to develop the required clamping force at the interfaces of
the elements being joined. The frictional resistance between the concrete and steel surfaces subjected
to the clamping force opposes the tendency to slip due to externally applied load. Figure 11 shows the
load transfer from the beam to the connection through the frictional resistance. When friction type
bolts are designed not to slip under service loads, the design capacity at ultimate load may be
calculated as per bearing type connection shown in figure 12. The bolts in bearing type connection are
subjected to shear force and the capacity of the connection is limited by the shear capacity of bolts.
The load transfer mechanism in the beam to column connection when there is no gap between the
beam end and the column face is shown in figure 13. The compressive force from the beam end is
transferred to the column as bearing pressure. Moment of resistance of this connection is calculated as
the product of the shear or frictional resistance of the bolts and the lever arm.

9
 F: frictional resistance
between steel and concrete
P P surface
µ: Coefficient of friction
F=μ*P between steel and concrete
surface
P: Pre-tension in bolt urface
d: Depth of concrete beam
MR =φ*F*d d M
MR: Moment of resistance
F=μ*P M: External applied moment
P P φ :0.9 (if slip resistance is
designed at service load)
:0.8 (if slip resistance is
designed at ultimate load)

Figure 11: Force transfer mechanism through beam end to column connection (Slip critical connection)

V: Total shear resistance

P P
fs=Shear strength of bolt
V=fs*A
A=Total shear area of bolts

φ :0.8 (Strength reduction

factor)
MR = φ* V*d d M
𝑓𝑢𝑏
Shear strength of bolt 𝑓𝑠 =
√3
V=fs*A

P P

Figure 12: Force transfer mechanism through beam end to column connection (bearing type connection)

d': Distance from top edge

of beam to centroid of
P P
compressive force
V=fs*A or F=μ*P f’c: Compressive strength of
concrete
d’
a: Depth of compressive
d M
stress block
C
α: 0.85 ( Equivalent stress
C=α*f’c*a*b block parameter)

P P φ :0.85 (Strength reduction

MR = φ* V*d’ or φ* F*d’ factor)
b :Width of beam

Figure 13: Force transfer mechanism through beam end to column connection (no gap between beam & column)

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4 APPLICATIONS
The proposed demountable frame system can be easily implemented in low to medium rise residential,
industrial and commercial buildings. Given that majority of buildings in New Zealand are low to
medium rise, the proposed system can be adopted in majority of RC frame buildings to be built in
future in New Zealand. In addition, because it is easy to demount, the proposed system is perfect for
temporary structures like sports complex, parking buildings and storage houses.
Gravity-only frames or secondary elements constructed with current practice have been observed in
recent earthquakes to have either participated as part of the lateral load resisting system or deformed in
a way similar to (and along with) the main seismic frames. Consequently, damage was inevitable in
gravity frames in contrast to the intention of the designer. The proposed system allows gravity
resisting frames to be built with mechanical pin connections to the lateral load resisting system. With
this practice, the lateral loads will be shared only among the lateral load resisting seismic frames;
thereby enabling the building system to be built (and behave) as designed which spares gravity frames
from any earthquake damage.

5 LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES

The proposed system has to address the following limitations and challenges before being ready for
implementing into practice.
1. Difficulty in demounting/replacing damaged beams in upper stories of tall buildings after an
earthquake.
2. Practicality of replacing damaged column base in fixed base seismic frames after an
earthquake.
3. Lack of design guidelines for the proposed sustainable demountable precast frame building
system.
4. Challenges in extending the proposed demountable precast system concept to buildings with
RC shear walls.
Research is currently underway at University of Canterbury to find answers to these challenges and to
materialize this concept. For this purpose, experimental testing of a range of demountable sub-
assemblages and analytical modelling and investigation are being planned to enhance the
understanding of seismic performance of such system and to eventually establish design guidelines.

6 CONCULSIONS
A new precast concrete frame building system is proposed which inherently offers unique advantages
such as; quick construction, simple, demountable and reusable, easily upgradable, quickly repairable
to insurance policy compliant condition etc. The proposed system is sustainable and can be easily
implemented into practice in all RC frame buildings. It is particularly suitable for temporary structures
because the structure can easily be demounted at any time and the components can be reused in
another structure. In the proposed precast frame system, damaged structural elements after an
earthquake can be easily detached and replaced with a new one; thereby significantly reducing the
downtime and rendering it a definitely repairable and low loss solution.

11
 REFERENCES:
Bournas, D.B., Negro, P. & Molina,F.J.2013. Pseudo-dynamic tests on a full-scale 3-storey precast concrete
building Behavior of the mechanical connections and floor diaphragms, Engineering Structures, 57,609-627
CPCI Deign Manual, 1996, Precast and Prestressed concrete,Canadian Presstressed Concrete Institute,Canada
Elwood, K.J., Pampanin, S. &Kam, W.Y. 2012. 22 February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and Implications for
the design of concrete structures, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Engineering Lessons Learned
from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Tokyo, Japan, 1157-1168

Elliott, K.S.1996. Multi-storey precast concrete framed structures. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

Elliott, K. S., Davies, G., Ferreira, M. A., Gorgun ,H. &Mahdi, A. A. 2003.Can precast concrete structures be
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internationale de béton, Bulletin 27, Lausanne.
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Earthquake Eng., 43(4), 340-350.
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Dec 2011.
Mohamed, S.A.M. 1992. Behaviour of sleeved bolt connections in Precast Concrete Building Frames. PhD
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Negro,P.& Toniolo,G. 2012. Design guidelines for connections of precast structures under seismic actions,
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