Plastic Hinge Relocation Methods for Emulative PC Beam–Column Connections

Abstract

Various plastic hinge relocation methods were studied to improve the earthquake resistance of emulative precast concrete (PC) beam-column connections using PC U-shell beams. The present study used two strengthening methods (hooked bars and headed bars) and a weakening method (reduced beam bar section), to relocate the plastic hinge zone of beams away from the weak beam-column joint. Five full-scale test specimens including a conventional reinforced concrete (RC) specimen were tested to evaluate the earthquake resistance. The test results showed that the used relocation methods significantly decreased that bond-slip of beam flexural bars and joint shear cracking. As a result, the energy dissipation capacity significantly increased, compared to those of the conventional RC specimens and PC specimens without relocation methods. On the basis of the test results, design recommendations are suggested for plastic hinge relocation design of emulative PC beam-column connections.