Experimental and Analytical Study of Segmental Precast Slabs with Loop Joints

Abstract

This paper presents the testing results and analytical results of segmental precast slabs, formed by four panels of segmental precast units with band beams and connected together with loop joints. Three sets of the single span of 3200x3200 mm slabs were tested. They were simply supported at each corner by steel columns of size 200x200 mm and were tested under uniformly distributed load steps by means of sand bags. The slabs were also analyzed by using the nonlinear finite element method with assuming nonlinear material properties. From the experiments, it was found that the slabs have a linear behavior up to 40% of its ultimate load. After cracks occurred, the slabs behave nonlinearly and yielding of the main steel reinforcement occurred at the load about 65% of its ultimate load at the ratio of the maximum deflections to span length about 0.003. Also, all slabs have very high ductility at their failure with the ductility factor about 6 and the mode of failure can be considered as a progressive failure. Comparing the analytical results with the experimental results, it can be concluded that the segmental precast slabs can be built as strong as the conventional slabs to sustain service loads for the ranges of 3.0 to 4.0 kN/m2, providing that the loop joints connect the precast units perfectly.