Abstract:
Grouted connections are widely used to connect precast concrete wall panels to their foundations. Various forms of grouted inserts are utilised in different countries to provide a splice between the wall panel and the connection reinforcement. A commonly used coupler insert in New Zealand is grouted sleeve inserts. This type of inserts has a threaded portion on top of the insert to connect the panel reinforcement and a tube-shaped part for positioning and anchoring connection reinforcement using cementitious grout. The two concerns associated with this type of connections are thread slip and reinforcement pull-out from the grout when the inserted reinforcement is subjected to cyclic loads. Thread slip affects the panel stiffness and reduces the connection integrity, and reinforcement pull-out is an undesirable failure mode. In order to evaluate the force-displacement behaviour of connections with grouted sleeve connectors, two full-scale experiments were conducted with one wall panel being reinforced with a single layer of vertical reinforcing and the other wall panel being doubly reinforced. The geometry and detailing of the wall panels was based on a previously conducted review of over 4000 constructed precast concrete wall panels. The specimens were subjected to reverse in-plane cycle loads until failure of either the connection or the wall panel. The results of the experiments are discussed in this article.
