The Study of the Vertical Connection of Precast Concrete Bearing Wall Used in Residential Buildings Under Pull-Out Load

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the pull-out behavior and to evaluate the performance of vertical connection of the precast concrete bearing wall. Two types of vertical connection of the wall commonly used in construction were investigated in this study, including dowel connection and plate connection. Precast wall concrete samples had 1200mm x 600mm in cross section and 100 mm in thickness.  All samples were reinforced with steel wire mesh of 6mm@100 mm in the middle of the thickness and 12-mm deformed bar were added around the edge of the wall to prevent the edge crack. The 12mm deformed bar was used as a vertical connector between precast walls for these two types of connection, and it would be used to evaluate the pull-out behavior. The main results from this test was the relationship between pull-out load and the displacement measured by LVDT installed at the top of the connector bar. Investigated parameters were types of connection and embedded length in concrete of rebar used as a connector. It was found that the maximum pull-out load increased as the embedded length of rebar was increased. Furthermore, this research also helps designers to better understand pull-out behavior, failure mode of pull-out, and suitable embedded length of rebar for the design in future.