Evaluation of the Column Connections Used in a Precast Concrete Modular Housing System.

摘要

The column connections used in a housing system employing stacked precast concrete box modules were tested to evaluate their structural performance. The system was proposed for construction in Operation BREAKTHROUGH, a research and demonstration program sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The system uses innovative structural design concepts,which include: confinement of the concrete in the vicinity of the column bearings by reinforcing ties in order to increase concrete compressive strength;neoprene pads between column bearings in the upper stories;steel-neoprene-steel sandwich in the lower stories;and a grouted dowel through the center of the columns to provide resistance to tension and shear. The test program included the following: tests to determine the effect of various bearing pads on the load capacity of the connection;tests to determine the load-deformation characteristics of the neoprene pads; a test to determine the performance of a lower-story connection using a steel-neoprene-steel sandwich and a grouted dowel;and tests to evaluate the strength and ductility of the connections when subjected to a shear force. Test results are presented and interpreted and the findings are summarized. (Author)