posted on 2025-05-15, 13:10authored byETD DepositorETD Depositor, Baha'a Ahmad Burhan Mohammad Al-Khateeb
This dissertation presents an investigation of precast concrete shear walls with nonproprietary, short-grouted connections for ductile energy-dissipating reinforcing bars crossing horizontal joints. Unlike available proprietary grouted splices that use end-threaded reinforcing bars for force transfer along the splice, the energy-dissipation bars in the proposed connection are terminated and grouted inside straight corrugated thin-gauge steel ducts. Vertical, transverse, and longitudinal tie reinforcement is designed around the connectors to transfer the energy-dissipation bar forces into the precast component.
The research included six large-scale shear wall test specimens, numbered as specimens 1-6. Specimen 1 was tested by a previous Master’s student at the University of Notre Dame. All six specimens were tested and evaluated under pseudo-static reversed-cyclic lateral loading and superimposed axial loading per seismic acceptance criteria for special precast concrete shear walls in ACI 550.6-19.
Specimen 1 was designed based on previous tests of isolated (that is, single) energy-dissipation bar connections subjected to reversed-cyclic uniaxial loading. The results from each wall test informed the design of the subsequent specimens. Among the first three walls, only specimen 3 satisfied the maximum lateral strength loss limit of 20% at the validation-level drift prescribed by ACI 550.6-19. Important connection design and detailing recommendations were made based on the performance differences between these specimens.
Specimens 4, 5, and 6 were tested to evaluate the connections for varying energy-dissipation bar size, wall base moment-to-shear ratio, wall thickness, axial load ratio, and layout of connectors and tie reinforcement in the wall cross section. These specimens met all applicable validation requirements of ACI 550.6-19, sustaining limited damage despite undergoing large lateral displacements, and demonstrating high performance of the connectors for seismic application.
The wall test results were used to improve a previous strut-and-tie model for designing the connection tie reinforcement and connector length. A simplified set of equations and accompanying sample calculations were created for engineers to design connections without engaging into the details of the strut-and-tie design model. Fiber element-based nonlinear numerical models as well as closed-form analytical approaches to predict the nominal and probable axial-flexural strengths of walls utilizing these connections were also developed.
History
Date Created
2025-04-14
Date Modified
2025-04-14
Defense Date
2025-04-04
CIP Code
14.0801
Research Director(s)
Yahya Kurama
Committee Members
Luis Fargier Gabaldon
Alex Taflanidis
Brad Weldon
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree Level
Doctoral Dissertation
Language
English
Publisher
University of Notre Dame
Additional Groups
Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Program Name
Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences