Based on the available experimental data, fiber models for four prefabricated fiber-reinforced concrete beam–column joint specimens with grouted sleeve connections are first developed in OpenSees software. Then, the simulated seismic performance of the specimens is compared with the experimental results. Finally, the effects of axial load ratio and shear-to-span ratio on the seismic performance of the specimens are further investigated numerically. The results indicate that Concrete02 material model and Reinforcing Steel material model can accurately simulate the constitutive relationship of concrete and reinforcing steel, respectively; the beam–column joint elements can accurately simulate different damage behaviors of the joint zone. Fiber-reinforced concrete can significantly improve the seismic performance of the specimens. The relative errors of the simulated seismic performance indexes are about 15%. It is recommended that the optimum value of shear-to-span ratio for prefabricated FRC BCJs is 2.0–2.5. The effect of axial load ratio on the seismic behavior of PBCJs-CM is very small, and can be negligible in the case that the prefabricated FRC BCJs has a moderate value of shear-to-span ratio. The fiber model developed in this article can provide a numerical simulation basis for subsequent studies of prefabricated fiber-reinforced concrete beam–column joint specimens with grouted sleeve connections.
Traditional cast-in-place beam–column joints have the defects of high complexity and high construction difficulty, which seriously affect the efficiency and safety of the building construction line, and precast beam–column joints (PBCJs) can greatly improve the construction efficiency and quality. At present, the investigations on the seismic behavior of precast reinforced concrete structures are still mainly focused on experiments, while the numerical simulations for their own characteristics are still relatively lacking. In the present study, the seismic behavior of novel precast beam–column joints with mechanical connections (PBCJs-MCs) is investigated numerically. Based on the available experimental data, fiber models for four PBCJs-MCs are developed. Then, the simulated and experimental seismic behaviors of the prefabricated BCJs are compared and discussed. Finally, the factors influencing the seismic behavior of the PBCJs-MCs are further investigated numerically. The numerical results indicate that the fiber models can consider the effect of the bond–slip relationship of concrete and reinforcement under reciprocating loads. The relative errors of the simulated seismic behavior indexes are about 15%. The bearing capacity and displacement ductility coefficients of the PBCJs-MCs decrease rapidly as the shear-to-span ratio (λ) increases. It is recommended that the optimum λ for PBCJs-MCs is 2.0–2.5. The effect of the axial load ratio on the seismic behavior of PBCJs-MCs can be negligible in the case of the PBCJs-MCs with a moderate value of λ.
16 September 2025 in International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
This study investigates the bond–slip behavior of newly poured concrete and reinforcement bars under traffic-induced vibrations in bridge widening. Center pull-out tests were conducted on C60 concrete specimens with HTRB400 steel bars to examine the effects of bar diameter, vibration frequency, amplitude, and anchorage length. Based on the experimental data, the bond–slip constitutive model of newly poured concrete-reinforcement bars was developed. Test results indicated that larger bar diameters reduced ultimate bond stress and relative slip. Specimens with 8 d (d is the diameter of reinforcement bar) anchorage length exhibited lower bond strength than those with 5 d. Vibration amplitude had minimal influence on bond behavior, while higher frequencies decreased bond stress but increased slip. The constitutive model can provide a reliable prediction of bond behavior under dynamic disturbances. The findings offer practical insights for bridge widening projects, ensuring structural integrity under traffic loads.
For medium- and small-span bridges, the weight of the superstructure in steel–concrete composite girder bridges is lighter than that of a reinforced concrete girder bridge. However, it is still uncertain whether steel–concrete composite girder bridges exhibit superior seismic performance compared to reinforced concrete girder bridges. This study quantitatively compared the seismic performance of the two types of bridges. Using the theory of probabilistic seismic demand analysis, the seismic vulnerability curves of bridges were derived. To conduct seismic demand analysis for probabilistic analysis on the OpenSEES platform, bridge samples were generated using the Latin hypercube stratified sampling method, which considers the uncertainties associated with the two types of bridges. The vulnerability curves of the piers, bearings, abutments, and the system of the two bridges were established using probabilistic analysis of the time history analyses. The results showed that the seismic vulnerabilities of components and the overall system of the steel–concrete composite girder bridge were both lower than those of the reinforced concrete girder bridge. When the peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the ground motion was 0.3 g, the moderate and serious damage probabilities of the piers in the steel–concrete composite bridge were only 54.61% and 60.89%, respectively, of those of the reinforced concrete bridge. Consequently, replacing the upper reinforced concrete girders with steel–concrete composite girders can significantly improve the seismic performance of a large number of existing bridges.
Seismic resilience is a critical concern in the development of prefabricated concrete structures. This study investigates the seismic performance of prestressed prefabricated concrete frames with mechanically connected steel bars through both experiment and finite element simulations using ABAQUS. The research aimed to evaluate the influence of prestressed and mechanical connections on structural stiffness, energy dissipation and failure mechanisms, and a restoring force model was developed based on the experimental and numerical results to provide a theoretical basis for seismic design. The parametric analysis based on the verified numerical model shows that the pretension can significantly enhance the bearing capacity, stiffness and deformation recovery ability of the prefabricated concrete frames. The peak load increased by 30.8%, the initial stiffness improved by 17.4%, the ductility coefficient reached 2.82, the residual deformation rate reduced by 40.7%, the emergence and development of cracks delayed, and the crack width reduced. Improving the effective prestress in a certain range can improve the bearing capacity and initial stiffness of the frame. Increasing the strength of concrete and the ratio of the longitudinal reinforcement of beam and column can effectively enhance the bearing capacity of the frame. With the increase of axial compression ratio in a certain range, the bearing capacity and initial stiffness of the frame increase significantly, but the ductility decreases. Based on the hysteresis curve and skeleton curve tested, the skeleton curve model and stiffness degradation law of the prestressed prefabricated concrete frames reinforced with mechanical connection steel bars were fitted, and the restoring force model was established. The predicted value was in good agreement with the experimental value, illustrating the validity of the model developed. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing the seismic design of prefabricated concrete frames, ensuring a balance between strength, stiffness, and ductility in earthquake-resistant structures.
In order to study the failure mode and debonding behavior of the interface between BFRP (basalt fiber reinforced polymer) sheet and structural steel under mixed-mode loading conditions, eighteen specimens with different initial angles were tested in this study. The specimens were designed with different initial angles to ensure that the interface performed under mixed-mode loading conditions. The relations between the bond strengths, failure modes, and initial angles were investigated. A new evaluation method to predict the interfacial bond strength under shear-peeling loading mode was proposed. The test results show that specimens with a smaller initial angle are more likely to exhibit a shear debonding failure at the interface between the steel plate and adhesive. In contrast, specimens with a larger initial angle are more likely to exhibit peeling of the interface. The ultimate tensile strength of the specimen is higher with a smaller initial angle. The results predicted by the proposed method are in good agreement with the experimental results.