Experimental Research on the Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Frame with Replaceable Artificial Controllable Plastic Hinges

To satisfy the easy-repair demands of precast concrete (PC) frames after an earthquake, a PC frame with replaceable artificial controllable plastic hinges (ACPHs) is proposed in this paper. ACPHs were installed at each beam end on both sides of the frame, which concentrated the structural deformation to avoid any damage of precast reinforced concrete members. In this study, to explore the seismic behavior and ACPH location factor on the seismic performance of the frame structures, cyclic loading tests were conducted on two precast concrete frames with different positionings of the ACPH and cast-in-situ frame. The test results indicate that the ACPH frame exhibited favorable seismic performance, and the bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity can be improved by appropriately extending the distance from the ACPH to the cylinder. Based on the principle of maximizing the elastic range resistance of precast reinforced concrete beams, the formulas for calculating the optimal locations of ACPHs were established.