To investigate the static performance of precast segmental hollow piers, two precast segmental hollow pier specimens were designed for static loading tests on the top of piers. The finite element model of precast segmental hollow piers was established by the finite element software Abaqus and verified based on the test results. Based on the experimental and finite element models, three optimal design solutions were proposed, and the calculation results of each solution were analyzed. The results show that precast segmental hollow pier mechanical behavior is similar to that of cantilevered bending members. The specimens present brittle damage characteristics after the destruction of the structure at the bottom of the pier pressure edge as the axis of the rigid body rotation. Following the test loading process, the bonding between the segments is good, except for the pier bottom damage surface of the rest of the bonding surface, which has no relative displacement. The calculation results of the finite element model are in good agreement with the test results and can effectively predict the load–displacement response of precast piers. Three optimized design solutions are proposed. The finite element simulation proves all three optimized design solutions show better overall ductility than the original solution and can effectively improve the performance of segmental precast hollow piers.

Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) has attracted much attention in China as a new and efficient construction method. However, the seismic performance of the connections between precast piers and other structures limits the application of ABC in medium and high seismic zones. In this paper, a quasi-static test was conducted to investigate the seismic performance differences between a cap–column socket connection (PSC) specimen, which reinforced an embedded RC column-to-precast cap beam with a socket connection, and a cast-in-place (CIP) cap–column specimen. A fiber-based finite element model that considers bond slippage between the connection reinforcement and wet joint concrete is proposed. The numerical simulation results compared with the experimental results show an error of about 12% in peak bearing capacity and about 2% in initial stiffness. The experimental and numerical results show that the PSC specimen demonstrates comparable seismic performance to the CIP specimen. Experimental results verified that the finite element model in this paper is adequate to predict the seismic responses of a precast column with a reinforcement-embedded socket connection. A reinforcement-embedded RC column-to-precast cap beam with socket connection can be an effective solution for construction in medium and high seismic areas.

Ten ‘Z’-shaped shear specimens were fabricated to study the effect of uneven normal stress on the shear performance of glue joints. The test parameters included the roughness of the joint surface, the level of lateral normal stress, and the uniformity of lateral normal stress. The crack development, failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, and relative slip data of the specimens were recorded in detail, and the load-strain curve and load-relative slip curve were plotted according to the test results. The results show that all specimens were brittle failures. After roughening the surfaces of the joints, the deformation resistance, overall strength, and overall stiffness of the specimens all got a little better. Increasing the level of lateral normal stress and the uniformity of lateral normal stress, the cracking load and ultimate bearing capacity of the specimen were increased. In addition, a coefficient η that quantifies the degree of uniformity of the lateral normal stress was defined, and a formula for predicting the direct shear bearing capacity of glue joints was proposed. The results show that the average ratio between the calculated values from the proposed formula and the test values was 0.96.