Mechanical performance analysis of a precast beam-column joint based on pinned connection and prestressed bar reinforcements under vertical cyclic loading with fatigue prediction

This study focuses on precast beam-column joints subjected to earthquake-like condition, with the objective of evaluating their structural performance in terms of strength, ductility and energy dissipation to ensure structural stability, efficiency and prevent potential failure. This paper proposes a new type of adaptive precast beam-column joint that is achieved by using two dowel pinned bars of various diameter, as well as two horizontally post-tensioned prestressed steel strands to fasten the notched beam to the column. The test results indicate that the strength of all four adaptive precast beam-column exceed that of cast-in-place in negative loading direction, and the beam-column joint with 25 mm pinned bar diameter displayed better ductility from the five specimens. Furthermore, the result of crack prediction demonstrated that the analytic prediction of the critical cracks lengths is almost the same as that of experimental tests.