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Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 13229

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dong-Zhi Guan

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Dongnandaxue Road, Nanjing 211189, China
Interests: precast concrete structure; construction method; prestressing steel structure; energy dissipator; high-performance concrete

Dr. Zhangfeng Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
Interests: precast concrete structures; precast steel-concrete composite structures; hybrid connection methods; seismic performance; design methods

Dr. Jian Sun

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Interests: precast concrete structure; strengthening and retrofitting of engineering structures; conservation of historic buildings

Dr. Lianglong Song

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 10024, China
Interests: precast concrete structures; post-tensioned self-centering structures; earthquake engineering; seismic design and assessment of structures; probabilistic structural analysis

Dr. Sen Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: precast concrete structure; resilient structure; structural damper; seismic behaviour; energy dissipation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Precast concrete structures, with increasing global construction demand, are commonly deemed to be advantageous in terms of their building quality, time and labor savings, cost efficiency, environmental friendliness, etc. Various precast concrete structures have been developed and constructed, including an emulative system, pretensioning system, rocking system, and modular system. New technologies in the civil engineering field, e.g., novel energy-dissipators and advanced materials like FRP, UHPC, and ECC, are increasingly combined with precast concrete structures. Furthermore, many recent construction ideas or concepts, such as building industrialization, smart construction, and intelligent construction, are actually mainly related to precast concrete structures. Therefore, precast concrete structures remain one of the most active and prosperous research areas in civil engineering.

This Special Issue aims to promote the high-quality works in developing and studying novel precast concrete structures for high performance and satisfactory construction efficiency, with a focus on state-of-the-art progress, development, and new trends. Original research and review articles that are not published elsewhere are welcome to be included in this Special Issue. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

High-efficient emulative precast concrete structures;
Application of high-performance concrete in precast structures;
Novel precast concrete structures with energy-dissipators;
Precast steel–concrete composite structures;
Precast underground concrete structures;
Modular concrete structures;
Static and seismic performance of connections between prefabricated elements;
Analytical and design method of precast structures;
Reliability and probabilistic safety assessment of precast structures;
Long-term performance and life-cycle cost analysis of precast structures.

Dr. Dong-Zhi Guan
Dr. Zhangfeng Zhu
Dr. Jian Sun
Dr. Lianglong Song
Dr. Sen Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

precast concrete
high-performance concrete
composite structure
energy dissipator
mechanical performance
analytical and design method

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 16751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Shear Resistance in Horizontal Joints of Prefabricated Shear Walls through Post-Cast Epoxy Resin Concrete Applications

by Peiqi Chen, Shilong Zhao, Pengzhan Xu, Xiaojie Zhou and Yueqiang Li

Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3119; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103119 - 28 Sep 2024

Viewed by 604

Abstract

The horizontal joint is a critical component of the prefabricated shear wall structure, responsible for supporting both horizontal shear forces and vertical loads along with the wall, thereby influencing the overall structural performance. This study employs direct shear testing and finite element analysis to investigate the horizontal joint in walls with ring reinforcement. It examines the impact of various factors on joint shear performance, including the type of joint material, joint configuration, buckling length of ring reinforcement, strength of precast concrete, reinforcement ratio of ring reinforcement and dowel bars, and the effect of horizontal binding force. The findings indicate that the shear bearing capacity and stiffness of joints incorporating post-cast epoxy resin concrete and keyways are comparable or superior to those of integrally cast specimens. A larger buckling length in ring reinforcement may reduce shear strength, suggesting an optimal buckling length at approximately one-third of the joint width. As the strength of precast concrete increases, ductility decreases while bearing capacity increases, initially at an increasing rate that subsequently declines. Optimal results are achieved when the strength of precast concrete closely matches that of the post-cast epoxy concrete. Enhancing the reinforcement ratio of ring reinforcement improves shear capacity, but excessively high ratios significantly reduce ductility. It is recommended that the diameter of ring reinforcement be maintained between 10 mm and 12 mm, with a reinforcement ratio between 0.79% and 1.13%. Increasing horizontal restraint enhances stiffness and shear capacity but reduces ductility; thus, the axial compression ratio should not exceed 0.5. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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22 pages, 7956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Bending Performance of Prefabricated H-Shaped Steel Beams with Different Bolt Hole Types

by Xin Zhang, Shenlu Yu, Shuaike Feng, Dawei Fan, Fang Zhang and Han Cao

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2988; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092988 - 20 Sep 2024

Viewed by 515

Abstract

This paper investigates the structural performance of a new prefabricated H-shaped steel beam assembled using high-strength bolts under three-point bending. The study evaluates four bolt hole types in five layout schemes through experimental tests. The results show that specimens with standard round holes in both the H-shaped steel and connecting plates exhibited 11% to 30% higher flexural bearing capacity compared to other hole types. Additionally, ANSYS simulations closely matched the experimental results, with a 6% difference. The research results provide important references for the design of prefabricated H-shaped steel beams with different bolt hole types, offering a practical foundation for enhancing the flexural performance of steel beam designs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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31 pages, 26265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Shear Performance of the Interface between Post-Cast Epoxy Resin Concrete and Ordinary Concrete

by Peiqi Chen, Hao Wang, Xiaojie Zhou and Shilong Zhao

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092852 - 10 Sep 2024

Viewed by 503

Abstract

The interface of fresh-aged concrete represents a critical vulnerability within monolithic assembled monolithic concrete structures. In this paper, the shear performance of the interface between post-cast epoxy resin concrete and standard concrete is studied using experimental methods and finite element analysis. The objective is to furnish empirical data that support the broader adoption of epoxy resin concrete in assembled structures. A direct shear experiment of 19 Z-shaped samples and a computation of 20 finite element models were completed. The results from both experimental and computational analyses provided insights into several factors influencing the shear performance at the interface. These factors include the pre-cast part of concrete strength, the friction coefficient of the interface, the longitudinal reinforcement ratio at the interface, the compressive strength of concrete in the post-cast part, and confining stress. The findings indicate that utilizing epoxy resin concrete for post-cast material, roughing the interface, and setting keyways can enhance the shear performance of the interface so that it equals or even exceeds the cast-in situ sample. Optimal shear results are obtained when the compressive strength of the post-cast epoxy resin concrete closely matches that of the pre-cast conventional cement. Moreover, increasing the depth of the keyways rather than their width is more effective in improving the shear capacity of the sample. It is recommended that the depth of the keyway should be at least 30 mm, and its width should be no less than three times the depth. As the longitudinal reinforcement ratio at the interface increases, there is an enhancement in shear capacity coupled with a reduction in deformative performance. It is advisable to maintain this ratio below 1.0% to balance the strength and ductility effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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17 pages, 5582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Seismic Performance of Prefabricated Monolithic Concrete–Polystyrene Panel Composite Wall Panels

by Kaozhong Zhao, Zijia Fan, Yuming Zhang, Yufeng Xu and Sihong Liu

Buildings 2024, 14(2), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020442 - 6 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1046

Abstract

A normal composite wall panel is a structural component composed of polystyrene insulation boards and concrete surface layers reinforced with steel wire mesh. It can be entirely prefabricated in a factory or constructed with the concrete surface layers cast on-site. A novel prefabricated monolithic concrete–polystyrene panel composite wall panel (CPC wall panel) is proposed in this study. The CPC panel features a middle part that is prefabricated in the factory while the reinforced concrete regions at its two side ends are cast on-site. To evaluate the seismic performance of the wall panel, 18 CPC specimens were designed, manufactured, and quasi-statically tested, through which the structural behaviors, failure mode, and load-bearing capacity were studied. In addition, the influences of the height-to-width ratio and the vertical compressive stress level on the seismic performance of the CPC panels were also investigated. The test results showed that the connectors spaced at 400 mm × 500 mm could ensure the concrete layers on both sides of the polystyrene board worked collectively under seismic conditions. When subjected to lateral loads, the interface between the newly poured concrete and the existing concrete exhibited good bonding. Moreover, the failure mode of the CPC wall panel was largely correlated to the height-to-width ratio that, for specimens having four steel bars of 12 mm diameter and a height-to-width ratio greater than 1, the flexural failure was initially developed, followed by diagonal shear failure. In specimens with a height-to-width ratio of 1, flexural and diagonal shear failures occurred almost simultaneously. For specimens with a height-to-width ratio of less than 1, the final diagonal shear failure was predominant. The longitudinal reinforcing bars at the two ends of the CPC panels could effectively improve their lateral load-bearing capacity, with the enhancement influenced by the height-to-width ratio, the vertical load applied to the wall panel, and the cross-sectional area of the steel bars. In practice, the lateral load-bearing capacity of the CPC panel can be conservatively evaluated using the calculation method of the reinforced concrete shear walls. Finally, the ductility of the CPC specimens was affected by the height-to-width ratio and the axial compressive stress level, such that the specimens with a larger height-to-width ratio and lower axial compressive stress exhibited better ductility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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21 pages, 17370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Evaluation of Precast Concrete Walls with High-Tension Bolted Vertical Joints for Enhanced Ductile Behavior

by Kyo Young Moon, Sung Jig Kim and Kihak Lee

Buildings 2024, 14(1), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010255 - 17 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1256

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental program investigating the seismic performance of Precast Concrete (PC) walls incorporating a novel vertical joint featuring high-tension bolts. The proposed joint aims to enhance both the constructability and ductile behavior of PC walls while eliminating defects due to bolt exposure associated with conventional dry joints. To evaluate the shear performance of the joints, three specimens were constructed: a cast-in-place concrete wall, a PC wall with the conventional wet joint, and a PC wall with the proposed joint. Direct shear tests revealed a substantial improvement in the ductile behavior of the proposed vertical joint, demonstrating gradual and controlled failure, even at high strains. Static cyclic loading tests further assessed the seismic performance of two PC walls: one with the conventional wet joint and the other with the high-tension bolted vertical joint. The PC wall with the proposed joint exhibited a substantial 20% increase in ultimate displacement compared to the control specimen, along with demonstrably improved crack control and reduced damage. Therefore, it is concluded that although the strength and stiffness decreased due to its design characteristics, the proposed vertical joint could mitigate damage and improve the ductility capacity of the PC wall. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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13 pages, 2237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Cracking Shear Stiffness Model of Reinforced Concrete Beams

by Kaiqi Zheng, Siwen Ni, Yaohui Zhang, Junxuan Gu, Mingming Gao and Yang Wei

Buildings 2023, 13(11), 2814; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112814 - 10 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1248

Abstract

Macro diagonal cracks can significantly reduce the stiffness of slender reinforced concrete (RC) beams, which results in excessive deflection compared with limitations from design specifications. To evaluate the post-cracking stiffness of slender RC beams with diagonal cracks, a shear degradation model that considers shear deformation is proposed. Based on the variable angle truss model, this study deduced the strut angle formula based on the minimum energy principle. Then, the relationship between the stirrup yielding shear stiffness and elastic shear stiffness was modeled. Finally, the calculation procedure was developed by quantifying the stiffness degradation tendency. The comparison between the experimental results of deflection and the proposed analytical method showed good agreement. Additionally, the proposed method can capture the full-range features of shear strain curves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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28 pages, 9446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Entrance Frame on Crack Development around Prefabricated Subway Station Openings

by Zhenze Mo, Shuaike Feng, Dongzhi Guan and Zhengxing Guo

Buildings 2023, 13(4), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13041032 - 14 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1513

Abstract

The openings at the sidewalls of subway station entrances generally reduce the localized load-bearing capacity of the sidewalls and lead to concentrated stress around the openings. In this study, to strengthen the sidewalls with openings in a newly-developed prefabricated subway station, a prefabricated steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) frame around the entrance was developed. To further investigate the effect of the developed entrance frame on the mechanical behavior of the sidewalls, a monotonic static test and finite element analysis were performed on a 1/2 scale station entrance substructure, including the proposed entrance frame and the adjacent top slab, bottom slab, and sidewalls. It was found that the developed entrance frame could effectively prevent stress concentration in the adjacent sidewall region. The most severe crack development was concentrated at the corner of the opening, which could be attributed to the torsional moment at the SRC beam end. The ratio of the torque shared by the beam to the total bending moment of the slab end varied from 21.2% to 26.8% in the elastic stage of all cases. In addition, both the improvement in the torsional bearing capacity of the SRC beam and the out-of-plane flexural capacity of the SRC column could positively contribute to controlling the crack development around the opening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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18 pages, 6703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of the Shear Resistance of Headed Studs Embedded in Precast Steel–Concrete Structures Based on an Interpretable Machine Learning Method

by Feng Zhang, Chenxin Wang, Xingxing Zou, Yang Wei, Dongdong Chen, Qiudong Wang and Libin Wang

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020496 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2711

Abstract

Headed shear studs are an essential interfacial connection for precast steel–concrete structures to ensure composite action; hence, the accurate prediction of the shear capacity of headed studs is of pivotal significance. This study first established a worldwide dataset with 428 push-out tests of headed shear studs embedded in concrete with varied strengths from 26 MPa to 200 MPa. Five advanced machine learning (ML) models and three widely used equations from design codes were comparatively employed to predict the shear resistance of the headed studs. Considering the inevitable data variation caused by material properties and load testing, the isolated forest algorithm was first used to detect the anomaly of data in the dataset. Then, the five ML models were established and trained, which exhibited higher prediction accuracy than three existing design codes that were widely used in the world. Compared with the equations from AASHTO (the one that has the best prediction accuracy among design specifications), the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model showed an 80% lower root mean square error, 308% higher coefficient of determination, and 86% lower mean absolute percent error. Lastly, individual conditional expectation plots and partial dependence plots showed the relationship between the individual parameters and the predicted target based on the GBDT model. The results showed that the elastic modulus of concrete, the tensile strength of the studs, and the length–diameter ratio of the studs influenced most of the shear capacity of shear studs. Additionally, the effect of the length–diameter ratio has an upper limit which depends on the strength of the studs and concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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20 pages, 78215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cyclic Behavior of Multiple Hardening Precast Concrete Shear Walls

by Hongbo Jiang, Jian Sun, Hongxing Qiu, Dafu Cao, Wenjie Ge, Qiang Fang, Hengwei Cui and Kongyang Chen

Buildings 2022, 12(12), 2069; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12122069 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1964

Abstract

Precast Concrete (PC) shear walls are becoming popular in building structures. With “wet” connection techniques, PC shear walls often behave like conventional cast-in-place walls, where hardening occurs after yielding. In this study, two PC shear walls assembled by the “dry” connection technique, and one cast-in-place shear wall, were tested by means of quasi-static cyclic loading. The main purpose of the experiment was to systematically investigate the cyclic response of PC shear walls with varying types of vertical connection in the form of a friction-bearing device. The results showed that vertical bearing in devices, which mainly stems from the longitudinal elongation of PC wall panels, could enlarge the axial force of end column so that it provided an additional resistance moment. The PC shear wall with weak connection achieved ductile failure and second ascending branches on load-displacement relationship, i.e., secondary hardening, and the wall with strong vertical connection performed great moment capacity as well as tertiary hardening. Compared to cast-in-place walls, the peak load and cumulative hysteretic energy of PC shear walls increased by about 60% and 100%, respectively. A conceptual analysis of the multiple hardening phenomenon is presented based on experimental results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Novel Precast Concrete Structures)

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