A CASE STUDY ON STRENGTH EVALUATION OF STEEL CONNECTION ASSEMBLIES EMBEDDED IN PRECAST MEMBERS

摘要

This paper is a case study in the application of ACI 318-05 Chapter 20, Strength Evaluation of Existing Structures, to evaluate steel connection assemblies embedded in precast members. The evaluation described in the paper was conducted to address a purchaser’s concerns over the level of quality assurance used for welds in the steel assemblies. These concerns were expressed after the members were already fabricated but before they were completely erected. Because the welds in question were embedded in concrete they could not be visually observed, nor could they be directly tested without destroying the precast members. In lieu of direct testing of the welds, a load test regime was conducted based on ACI chapter 20. Load tests were informed by structural analyses, which were also a primary feature of the evaluation. Details and results of the structural analyses, load tests, and application of ACI chapter 20 are discussed.