Experimental study on effect of length of service hole on seismic behavior of exterior precast beam–column connections

Abstract

Experimental study is reported on the seismic behavior of a type of exterior beam–column connections, which feature service holes in the connecting ends of the beams. Specimens with three typical lengths of the holes (450, 500, and 400 mm) are tested under quasi-static reversed cyclic loading with constant axial compression on columns. Failure modes, hysteretic and skeleton curves, energy dissipation capacity and ductility are investigated and effect of the length of the hole on the seismic behavior of the connection is studied. The results reveal satisfactory seismic performance of the connections with plastic hinges developed at the connecting ends of the beams and no damage to the joint regions. Comparisons between the specimens demonstrate that the connection with 500-mm long hole performs the greatest energy dissipation capacity and the greatest ductility with comparable load-carrying capacity to the connection with 400-mm long hole. Finally, it is feasible and reliable to follow the Chinese code to predict the load-carrying capacity of the connection, when the longitudinal reinforcement is symmetrically arranged.