Experimental Study On Mechanical Behaviour Of Replaceable Energy Dissipation Connectors For Precast Concrete Frames

An innovative replaceable energy dissipation connector (REDC) is proposed in this paper that can be used as a connecting component as well as a metal-yield damper in the beam end of a precast concrete frame. In addition to the precast concrete frame for the REDC (REDC-PCF), a construction and post-earthquake repair method for it is proposed. An experimental study on the mechanical behaviour of REDCs under cyclic reverse loading was conducted to study their axial stiffness, hysteretic behaviour, energy dissipation capacity, and other properties. The results revealed that REDCs manufactured using high ductility steel exhibited a stable hysteretic property and high low-cycle fatigue performance under cyclic reverse loading conditions. On the basis of the test results, the REDC has a promising future in seismic design because it can be widely applied in precast concrete frames in high-seismic activity zones. A numerical analysis of the transverse displacement of the mechanical property of the REDC was also conducted. The results showed that the transverse displacement of the specimen had little effect on its mechanical property and low-cycle fatigue capacity. Thus, the uniaxial testing of REDC specimens would be effective in predicting the properties of beam-column joints.