Advanced Fibre Reinforced Precast Concrete Beam-Column Joints

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of an ongoing research project at The University of Auckland that is investigating the potential of ductile fibre reinforced cementitious composites (DFRCC) as a structural material in New Zealand. A brief overview of international research on DFRCC is given, including an explanation of how DFRCC differs from conventional fibre reinforced concrete. Researchers at The University of Auckland have begun mixing trial batches of DFRCC, and this paper gives some results from this investigation, along with comments about experience obtained from mixing these trial batches. To date DFRCC has not been successfully produced, although tensile properties of the concrete are significantly better than plain concrete. Finally, details are presented of an innovative method of constructing equivalent monolithic moment resisting frames using DFRCC connections to join precast concrete beam and column elements.