Full-scale tests of precast concrete beam-column connections with composite T-beams and cast-in-place columns subjected to cyclic loading

The precast concrete beam-column connections investigated herein, designed and detailed to be emulative connections, consisted of composite concrete T-beams and cast-in-place (CIP) concrete columns. This paper reported the test results of two full-scale precast connections and two CIP control specimens under cyclic loading. Results revealed that all connections exhibited a strong column-weak beam failure mechanism. The hysteresis loops of each precast connection were relatively plump and similar to those of its CIP control specimen, showing good energy dissipation capacity. The difference in load-carrying capacity between precast connections and their CIP control specimens was about 6.5% for interior connections and about -2.2% for exterior connections. The average displacement ductility of precast interior connection and its CIP control specimen was 5.69 and 6.88, while that of precast exterior connection and its CIP control specimen was 4.18 and 4.40, respectively. A four-fold line restoring force model was developed based on the test results.