Experimental study of a fabricated confined concrete beam-to-column connection with end-plates

At present, the building industrialization has become the development direction of construction industry, the precast prefabricated buildings become the focus of the construction industry once again because of its unique characteristics. A new-type of fabricated beam-column connections with end-plates is presented and introduced on this background. To investigate the seismic behavior of the new-type precast connection, seven specimens are tested by pseudo-static test. The hysteresis curves are recorded during the test, and the seismic indicators, such as ductility and energy dissipation capacity, are determined. The test results indicate that the hysteresis curves of precast connection are plump, and all specimens failed in bending in a malleable way with a beam plastic hinge, which is fully consistent with the criterion of strong column weak beams. Additionally, the fabricated connection exhibits satisfactory ductility and energy dissipation capacity, showing better seismic performance. Besides, the flexural capacity of unbonded prestressed confined concrete beam is analyzed, and the formula of flexural bearing capacity is proposed based on the theory of concentrated plastic zone. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental data, which can provide reference for theoretical research. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.