Experimental study on the progressive collapse resistance of emulative precast concrete beam-column subassemblies with various anchorage details

In this study, seven emulative precast concrete (PC) beam-column subassemblies with or without connecting bars and one concrete (RC) were fabricated and tested to investigate the effect of various types of anchorage detailing for reinforcing and connecting bars on the progressive collapse resistances. Two anchorage detailing formats for steel bars with bending and straight ends were used in the PC specimens for both the reinforcing and connecting bars. Test results show that, as found in the RC specimen, resisting mechanisms including pure flexure, compressive arch action (CAA) and tensile catenary action (TCA) were sequentially activated in all PC specimens. It is demonstrated that the connecting bars improved the progressive collapse resistance in both the CAA and TCA stages. The effect of the anchorage detailing was found to be negligible in CAA stage. However, in the TCA stage, the proper usage of the straight end for steel bars was helpful to improve the deformation capacity and thereafter enhanced the progressive collapse resistance. When the loading resistance, the deformation capacity as well as the construction flexibility are taken into account, the configuration consisting of both reinforcing and connecting bars with straight end as anchorage detailing is recommended for the design of precast beam-column connections in case a central column removal scenario is assumed.