Category: Graduate Student Seminar Alternative ABC Connections Utilizing UHPC

April 27, 2018 1:00 pm

In this quarterly Research Seminar, Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E., Principal Investigator; and Mohamadreza Shafieifar, Ph.D. student, present work under the ABC-UTC research project entitled Alternative ABC Connections Utilizing UHPC conducted at Florida International University in Miami.

Seminar Documents:
Alternative ABC Connections Utilizing UHPC - pdf of presentation
Q&A Session - pdf (to be posted soon!)

Description: Significant work is underway at FIU in the area of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with focus on developing solutions for ABC repair and upgrade. This work includes UHPC-based alternative ABC connections, methods to repair and upgrade substandard bridges, UHPC shell formwork, and innovative UHPC bridge systems. This seminar focuses on one of these UHPC-based solutions for ABC projects: new connection details for connecting precast cap beams to precast columns. The new UHPC cap-to-column connection eliminates challenges with existing connection alternatives. Two details are proposed and cover both seismic and non-seismic applications. Both details completely eliminate penetrating into the cap beam; the connection is made outside the cap beam and within the precast column. In one of the details, best suited for seismic areas, the location of the plastic hinge is well defined. The main advantages of the recommended details include a) large tolerances, b) short splice region and c) in seismic areas, completely elastic capacity-protected elements during a major seismic event.

Presenters:

 

Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Chair
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Florida International University

 

 

Mohamadreza Shafieifar, Ph.D. Student
(Ph.D., Summer 2018, FIU)
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Florida International University

Presentation Graphics:

Figure 1. Details of proposed UHPC-based connection detail a) with well-defined plastic hinge location and b) simplified detail applicable to both seismic and non-seismic areas

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Loading setup overview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Formation of plastic hinge of specimens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Hysteresis load deflection curve of specimens