NOVEL GROUTED SLEEVE CONNECTION FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS IN MODULAR BUILDINGS

Abstract

The Slotted-Hole Grouted Sleeve Connection (SH-GSC) was proposed and studied as a quick and constructible alternative to connect modules vertically in steel modular constructions. This study focusses on its flexural behaviour as a column splice connection in reinforced concrete columns in modular constructions. While an analytical method has been formulated and commonly adopted for estimating the flexural stiffness and strength in beam-column precast connections, it has not been validated against connections with more than 1 layer of reinforcement. As the SH-GSC has at least 2 layers of reinforcement, further studies were carried out to validate that analytical method. Four-point bending tests were carried out on 6 connection specimens. Quasi-static numerical models of these 6 specimens were constructed and analysed using ABAQUS explicit dynamic analysis and validated against their respective four-point bending test. A parametric study of the effect the length and size of the sleeves and the compressive load in the SH-GSC has on the flexural stiffness and strength of the connection was carried out. It was found that the flexural stiffness is underestimated by the commonly adopted analytical scheme and a new analytical scheme was proposed to improve the estimate of the flexural stiffness in the SH-GSC. Based on the results of the parametric study, design recommendations for the SH-GSC to allow for adequate column continuity in reinforced concrete moment frames have also been highlighted in this study.