article · Engineering Structures
Precast socket connections join precast columns and beams using prefabricated pockets to speed up construction and create strong joints. Incorporating non-corrodible glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement offers enhanced durability in harsh environments. A numerical investigation evaluated the behaviour of GFRP precast socket connections assembled with epoxy resin, validating finite element models against experimental tests on three specimens. Connection performance relies on socket depth, concrete depth beneath the socket, beam dimensions, socket-filling material, and the column reinforcement ratio. Full connection capacity requires a socket depth of 1.4 times the column thickness, alongside specific concrete confinement dimensions around the socket. Although epoxy resin provides strength, workability, and zero shrinkage, substituting it with ultra-high-performance concrete enhances joint performance and allows for shallower socket depths. These findings establish minimum sizing and detailing guidelines for assembling durable precast connections.
Precast concrete structures in severe environments risk structural failure if conventional steel reinforcement corrodes. Utilising corrosion-resistant glass fibre reinforced polymers together with optimised socket connections offers durable, rapid construction. Identifying exact geometric requirements and superior filling materials ensures these prefabricated connections can safely achieve maximum strength without unnecessary material use, facilitating more resilient building designs.
This applied numerical research provides direct design guidelines on minimum sizing and detailing for structural engineers, precast concrete manufacturers, and construction contractors. The work enables the design of corrosion-resistant precast beam-column joints for harsh environments, evaluating assembly with epoxy resin or ultra-high-performance concrete. As a validated numerical study built upon experimental tests, it sits at an applied and tested stage, ready to inform engineering standards and precast manufacturing specifications.
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Precast socket connections involve connecting precast columns and beams through prefabricated pockets. This method is widely used in the precast concrete industry due to its ability to accelerate construction and provide strong connections. To enhance their benefits and ensure durability in harsh environments, noncorrodible Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) reinforcement is commonly employed as an effective reinforcement solution. The current numerical study investigates the performance of GFRP precast socket connections using epoxy resin for assembly. Finite element models were developed and verified against the experimental results of three specimens. The numerical model was then employed to investigate the influence of several key parameters influencing the behaviour of precast GFRP socket connections. It was found that the performance of the connection depends on the socket depth, concrete depth under the socket, size of the beam, and socket-filling material. Additionally, the stiffness and capacity of the connection were found to be strongly affected by the column reinforcement ratio. The study reveals that the maximum capacity of the connection can be achieved using a socket depth equal to 1.4 times the thickness of the column. Moreover, the socket region should be properly confined by concrete of thickness at least 0.8 of the column thickness at the overhanging side of the beam and 0.5 times the column width in the transverse direction as well as the bottom of the socket, to ensure the development of the full capacity at the connection. Although epoxy resin has many advantages, including non-shrinkage, high workability, and high strength, it was found that replacing the epoxy resin with ultra-high-performance concrete improves the connection performance, and hence the required depth of the socket can be reduced. The results of this study can be used to safely work out the minimum size and detailing of the GFRP-RC socket connections using epoxy resin for assembly.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.117489
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