Flexural capacity of the new precast beam-to-beam connection

The current study compares the performance of beam-to-beam connections made of monolithic and precast beams under bending loadings. Two different precast beam-beam connections and monolithic beams were subjected to bending load tests using 1/4-scale models of each. The precast beam-beam connections are joined together by steel-welded pipe joints and Poly Vinyl Chloride-pipe joints. The bending load was applied at lengths of 1/3 and 1/4 from the support. The experimental outcomes of the bending test conducted on precast beams and the monolithic beams using universal testing machine were contrasted. The test results provide an evaluation of the flexural strength, failure mechanism, and deformation parameters of precast monolithic and precast connected beams. The results of this investigation shows that steel welded connector beams have equivalent flexural strength and 10.3% less deflection than monolithic beams. Finally, it was concluded that the steel welded pipe-connected beams are superior to monolithic reinforced concrete beams and could be used to connect the precast concrete beam members. The computational finite element method was used to compare the deflection and flexural strength measured from testing on real-scale beams.