International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The influence of axial compression is not incorporated into the design provisions for concrete breakout or pryout strength of anchors under shear. This study experimentally evaluated the shear capacities of anchors subjected to axial compression on a base plate using ten large-scale specimens. The test variables included axial compression N, edge distances from the anchor shaft in the direction of applied shear, edge distances perpendicular to the applied shear, and the compressive strength of concrete. The results showed little difference in crack initiation and propagation with varying axial compression. However, axial compression significantly improved the concrete breakout strength of anchors in shear. The applied axial compression reached up to 2.5 times the mean concrete breakout strength V_cbgo, as determined by the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method, and the average increase in shear strength was approximately 0.6 times the applied compression. In addition, axial compression suppressed concrete pryout failure by preventing the uplift of base plates. Based on the lowest N/V_cbgo ratio used in the tests, if axial compression of at least 0.5V_cbgo is applied to a base plate, pryout failure need not be considered.

In high-rise buildings, lower-story columns must withstand significant seismic shear forces while maintaining sufficient deformation capacity. This capacity is provided through effective confinement using transverse reinforcement. The ACI 318-25 building code specifies that confining reinforcement should be proportional to the applied axial load when the axial load exceeds 0.3A_gf'c and requires all longitudinal bars to be laterally supported with seismic hooks. However, the implementation of seismic hooks at both ends of crossties brings challenges for on-site reinforcement assembly.

This study experimentally investigates full-scale RC column specimens subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading while under a constant high axial load. The objectives are to validate the ACI 318-25 confinement requirements and to evaluate the feasibility of relaxing seismic hook requirements. The results confirm that columns designed in accordance with the ACI 318-25 building code satisfy the required 3% deformation capacity. Furthermore, satisfactory seismic performance can be achieved with crossties incorporating alternating 135-degree and 90-degree hooks, although at the expense of increased confining reinforcement.

For the assessment of existing reinforced concrete slab bridges, the shear capacity under concentrated loads and transition to flexural failure are under discussion. Previous research showed an increased shear capacity for slabs under concentrated loads close to the support, so that for assessment, positions farther from the support became governing. This experimental research studies the flexural and shear capacity of reinforced concrete slabs under concentrated loads. For this purpose, six slabs representing 1:2 scale continuous slab bridges were tested at various positions from the support and along the width. The results show two main failure modes: flexural failure (onset of yielding of the reinforcement), and shear failure. Secondary punching was observed as well. The comparison between the test results and calculations methods shows that all considered methods perform reasonably well when both shear and flexure are considered, and the effective width in shear is included, with average tested-to-predicted capacities between 0.92 (Regan’s method) and 1.39 (Extended Strip Model) and coefficients of variation between 15% (Regan’s method) and 25% (ACI 318-19 and Eurocode 2). These insights can be used for the assessment of existing reinforced concrete slab bridges.

This study investigates the effective stiffness of reinforced concrete (RC) low-rise walls with a shear span-to-length ratio between 0.5 and 1.5. Based on different mechanisms, the wall's overall deformation is separated into four components: flexural, shear, bar-slip, and base sliding. Ten specimens, with exterior deformation measured using a densely arranged optional instrumentation system, were selected to study the key parameters that affect the effective stiffness of each deformation component. Accordingly, a model is proposed for each deformation component, and a database comprising test results from an additional twenty-five specimens is developed to validate the proposed models.

This study uses six large-scale experimental tests to investigate the seismic behavior of external socket connections for reinforced concrete columns. The tests evaluated the effects of key design parameters, including socket height and grout strength, on the performance of these connections under reverse cyclic lateral loads. The results indicate that socket height significantly affects whether the plastic hinge forms in the column above the connection or inside the socket and influences the required strength of the structural components. Shorter socket heights required higher grout strengths and increased shear capacity to avoid undesirable failure modes. Three primary failure modes were observed: grout crushing, shear failure, and flexural failure above the socket. Regardless of socket height, all tests showed that external socket connections effectively protect adjoining structural members by limiting plastic strain demands. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing the design and performance of external socket connections in seismic regions.