Finite Element Analysis of Precast Frames Subjected to Lateral Loading

Abstract

Precast construction is currently an increasing trend for building construction due to its advantages like low manpower, efficiency, fast fabrication and many more. However heavy damages to the structure have been observed in past when the structure was subjected to lateral loading. The connection in precast connection plays a vital role as they are involved in transferring the forces from one to other elements. Thus, it is very important to understand the behaviour of precast connections in precast structures.

Generally, experimental studies are being carried out to understand the behaviour of any structural elements. But experimental studies are often very costly and time-consuming. Therefore, many times it is hard to conduct experimental studies on full-scale structural elements, which will require heavy testing facilities, handling equipment and manpower. With the advances in computational methods and availability of powerful and efficient computational tools, numerical analysis can be as an alternative to experimental studies. Finite Element Analysis is an effective numerical tool as it is frequently used to overcome limitations of experimental investigation in understanding the behaviour of structures and structural components.

In the present study, the performance of precast portal frames and precast space frames subjected to lateral loading is evaluated through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis is carried out using ABAQUS software with Concrete Damaged Plasticity Model to represent nonlinear material properties of concrete and micro-concrete. Concrete is modelled using C3D8R (8-node linear brick element) and steel reinforcement is modelled using T3D2 (2-node linear truss element). The numerical analysis results in terms of ultimate lateral load-carrying capacity, deflection profile of columns of the portal frames at various loads, load vs strain plot and failure modes are compared with the experimental results available.

Precast portal frames subjected to lateral loading with different types of connections i.e. monolithic connection, two precast wet connection and a precast dry connection are analyzed using finite element software ABAQUS. For validation, results in terms of lateral load vs deflection, lateral load vs strain at various locations and displacement profile obtained from the finite element analysis are compared with that obtained from the experimental investigation. From the comparison of the results of finite element analysis and experimental investigation, difference up to 6.94% is observed in ultimate load and difference from 8.82% and 29.2% is observed in maximum lateral deflection.