Professional Documents
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Invited paper
Abstract
Major advances have been observed in the last decade in seismic engineering with further refinements of performance-
based seismic design philosophies and definition of corresponding compliance criteria. Following the worldwide recog-
nized expectation and ideal aim to provide a modern society with high seismic performance structures, able to sustain a
design level earthquake with limited or negligible damage, emerging solutions have been developed for high-
performance, still cost-effective, seismic resisting systems, based on adequate combination of traditional materials and
available technology. In this paper, an overview of recent developments and on-going research on precast concrete
buildings with jointed ductile connections, relying on the use of unbonded post-tensioned tendons with self-centering
capabilities, is given. A critical discussion on the conceptual behavior, design criteria and modeling aspects is carried out
along with an update on current trends in major international seismic code provisions to incorporate these emerging sys-
tems. Examples of existing on site applications based on a recently developed cable-stayed and suspended solution for
frame systems are provided as further confirmation of the easy constructability and speed of erection of the overall sys-
tem.
dictable levels of performance in response to specified sponse indices, related to maximum deformation (i.e.
levels of earthquake, within definable levels of reliabil- interstorey drift or ductility) and/or cumulative inelastic
ity and interim recommendations have been provided to energy absorbed during the earthquake. The role of re-
actuate it. Within this proposed framework, expected or sidual (permanent) deformations, typically sustained by
desired performance levels are coupled with levels of a structure after a seismic event, even when designed
seismic hazard by performance design objectives as il- according to current codes, has instead being empha-
lustrated by the Performance Design Objective Matrix sized as a major additional and complementary damage
shown in Fig. 1. indicator. As noted by the authors, residual deformations
Performance levels are expression of the maximum can result in the partial or total loss of a building if static
desired (acceptable) extent of damage under a given incipient collapse is reached, the structure appears un-
level of seismic ground motion, thus representing losses safe to occupants or if the response of the system to a
and repairing costs due to either structural and non- subsequent earthquake is impaired by the new at rest
structural damage. As a further and fundamental step in position of the structure. Furthermore, they can also
the development of practical PB-SE guidelines, the ac- result in increased cost of repair or replacement of non-
tual condition of the building as a whole should be ex- structural elements as the new at rest position of the
pressed not only through qualitative terms, intended to building is altered. These aspects have not been properly
be meaningful to the general public, using general ter- reflected in current performance design and assessment
minology and concepts describing the status of the facil- approaches.
ity (i.e. Fully Operational, Operational, Life Safety and To gap this apparent discrepancy between the real fi-
Near Collapse) but also, more importantly, through ap- nal state of a structure and current performance evalua-
propriate technically-sound engineering terms and pa- tion criteria, the authors proposed a framework for a
rameters, able to assess the extent of damage (varying more comprehensive performance-based seismic design
from negligible to minor, moderate and severe) for the and assessment approach. Residual local and global de-
single structural or non-structural elements as well as of formations of structures are explicitly taken into account,
the whole system. by introducing a residual deformation damage index
The choice of appropriate engineering parameter(s), (RDDI) as a complementary indicator of damage and by
or damage indicator(s)/index(es), able to uniquely char- adopting a 3-dimensional performance-based matrix
acterize the status of the structure after the earthquake, where, for a given seismic intensity, Performance Levels
as well as the definition of appropriate values for lower (PLi) are represented by 2-D domains defined by the
and upper bounds of each performance level, represents combination of maximum deformations (or displace-
the most critical and controversial phase of a reliable ments) and residual deformations (displacements) pa-
Performance-Based Design or Assessment Approach. rameters (Fig. 2). Performance Objectives can be visual-
Recent developments in performance-based design ized connecting different PLi domains belonging to dif-
and assessment concepts (Pampanin et al. 2002; Chris- ferent intensity levels.
topoulos and Pampanin 2004) have highlighted the limi- A direct displacement-based design approach which
tations and inconsistencies related to current PBSE ap- includes an explicit consideration on the expected resid-
proaches, whereby the performance of a structure is ual deformations has also been implemented (Chris-
typically assessed using one or multiple structural re- topoulos and Pampanin 2004).
Performance Level
Frequent
(43 years)
Earthquake Design Level
Occasional
(72 years) Ba
sic
Ob
jec
tiv
e
Rare
(475 years)
Very Rare
(475 years)
Fig. 1. Seismic Performance Design Objective Matrix (SEAOC Vision 2000 1995).
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 209
y
Maximum or
STRUCTURE Maximum
Cumulative
Drift
Decreasing Performance
or
Increasing Cost
Incipient Collapse PL
PL 4
PL PL4*
4*
4 PL4* PL4*
x
PL33 PL3*
PLPL PLPL4*
3* 4*
PL2PLPL2* PL3*
PL2 2*
PL1
PL1
x
Residual Drift
RDDI
Maximum or
RDDIS1 RDDIS2 RDDIS3 Residual Cumulative y
Deformations Seismic
Seismic Intensity
Intensity
NON-STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS BSE-2
Decreasing Performance BSE-1
or y
Increasing Cost Maximum or
Cumulative x
RDDI
Structural Intervention
Needed
Seismic
Intensity
A first attempt to introduce the residual deforma- cepts, different levels of structural damage and, conse-
tion/drift as a complementary parameter in a design quently, repairing costs shall thus be expected and, de-
guidelines or code provisions is found in the 1996 Japa- pending on the seismic intensity, typically accepted as
nese seismic design specifications for highway bridges, unavoidable result of the inelastic behavior.
which, as reported by Kawashima (1997), imposes an A revolutionary alternative design approach has been
additional design check for important bridges: residual achieved by the recent solutions developed under the
displacements, computed as a function of expected duc- U.S. PRESSS (PREcast Seismic Structural System) pro-
tility and post yielding stiffness coefficient, are required gram coordinated by the University of California, San
to be smaller than 1% of the bridge height. Diego (Priestley 1991, 1996; Priestley et al. 1999) for
Further requirements to limit residual deformations precast concrete buildings in seismic regions with the
can be found in the recent draft guidelines for perform- introduction of “dry” jointed ductile systems, alternative
ance evaluation of Earthquake Resistant reinforced con- to traditional emulation of cast-in-place solutions and
crete buildings prepared by the Architectural Institute of based on the use of unbonded post-tensioning tech-
Japan (AIJ 2004), where limits on residual crack widths niques. As a result, extremely efficient structural systems
are indicated and associated to ranges of maximum are obtained, which can undergo inelastic displacements
drift/ductility and damage level. similar to their traditional counterparts, while limiting
the damage to the structural system and assuring full re-
3. Alternative seismic design philosophies centering capability. A damage control limit state can
for precast/prestressed concrete buildings thus be achieved according to either the traditional or
the more recent definitions of performance levels, lead-
Recognizing the economic disadvantages of designing ing to an intrinsically high-seismic-performance system
buildings to withstand earthquakes elastically as well as almost regardless of the seismic intensity.
the correlated disastrous consequences after an earth-
quake event with an higher-than-expected intensity (as 3.1 Emulation of cast-in-place concrete ap-
observed with the Great Hanshin event, Kobe 1995), proach
current seismic design philosophies favour the design of Several alternative solutions to provide moment-
ductile structural systems able to undergo inelastic re- resisting connections between precast elements for seis-
verse cycles while sustaining their structural integrity, mic resistance have been studied and developed in lit-
According to the aforementioned original PBSE con- erature (Watanabe 2000; Park 2002; fib 2003) mostly
relying on cast-in-place techniques to provide equivalent
210 S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005
“monolithic” connections (i.e. connections with equiva- “hybrid” systems (Stanton et al. 1997), where self-
lent strength and toughness to their cast-in-place coun- centering and energy dissipating properties are com-
terparts). bined through the use of unbonded post-tensioning ten-
The intrinsic and well-recognized advantages of pre- dons/bars and longitudinal non-prestressed (mild) steel
cast construction, namely quality control, construction or additional external dissipation devices (Fig. 5).
speed and costs, are thus greatly reduced. In typical A sort of “controlled rocking” motion of the beam or
emulation of cast-in-place concrete solutions, as for ex- wall panel occurs, while the relative ratio of moment
ample adopted in New Zealand and Japan construction contribution between post-tensioning and mild steel
practice (Fig. 3), the connections can be either localized governs the so-called “flag-shape” hysteresis behaviour
within the beam-column joint with partial or total cast- (Fig. 6).
ing-in-place of concrete, or in the middle of the struc-
tural member, which does not necessarily correspond to 4. Design criteria
a unique prefabricated segment, as typical of cruciform
(or tee-shaped) beam-column units. Provided an adequate amount of energy dissipation ca-
Nonetheless, due to their economic inconvenience pacity is given to the system, the seismic behaviour of
and construction complexity, such systems have not hybrid systems (whose concept has been recently and
been widely adopted, particularly in the United States successfully extended to steel moment resisting frames
and in Mediterranean seismic-prone countries (San- (Christopoulos et al. 2002b) and bridge systems (Man-
paolesi 1995, Fig. 4). der and Chen 1997; Hewes and Priestley 2001; Palermo
2004, 2005)) has been proved to be at least as satisfac-
3.2 Jointed ductile and hybrid systems tory as that of equivalent monolithic solutions (Pam-
In dry jointed ductile solutions, opposite to wet and
strong connection solutions, precast elements are jointed
together through unbonded post-tensioning ten-
dons/strands or bars. The inelastic demand is accommo-
dated within the connection itself (beam-column, col-
umn to foundation or wall-to-foundation critical inter-
face), through the opening and closing of an existing gap
(rocking motion) while reduced level of damage, when
compared to equivalent cast-in-place solutions, is ex-
pected in the structural precast elements, which are basi-
cally maintained in the elastic range. Moreover, the self-
centering contribution due to the unbonded tendons can
lead to negligible residual deformations/displacements,
which, as mentioned, should be adequately considered
as a complementary damage indicator within a perform-
ance-based design or assessment procedure (Pampanin
et al. 2002).
Fig. 4 Technical solutions developed in Italy according to
A particularly promising and efficient solution within
the emulation approach.
the family of jointed ductile connections is given by the
Fig. 3 Typical arrangements of precast units in the emulation of cast-in-place approach used in Japan and New Zealand
(fib, 2003).
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 211
Non-
Non-prestressed
(mild) steel θ Fiber reinforced
grout pad
Open Open
Unbonded
Open Open
post-tensioned
tendons
Wall Panel 1 Wall Panel 2
Energy
Dissipation
Devices
Open Open
15’ - 0” 15’ - 0”
Fig. 5 Jointed precast “hybrid” frame and wall systems developed in the PRESSS-Program (Priestley et al. 1999; fib
2003).
panin et al. 2000, Christopoulos et al. 2002a), due to Takeda rule) can be used to define an adequate ratio
similar maximum displacements and negligible residual λ=Mpt /Ms in a preliminary design phase in order to sat-
deformations. isfy the desired requirements. A full re-centering capac-
Depending on the moment contribution ratio between ity can be achieved by selecting an appropriate moment
self-centering and dissipating contribution, a wide range contribution ratio λ≥ α0, being α0 the expected material
of hybrid solutions can be obtained, with upper and overstrength for the non-prestressed steel reinforcement
lower bounds being given respectively, by an unbonded or the energy dissipation devices.
post-tensioned solution (with or without additional axial As a result, the initial prestress in the tendon should
load), with full re-centering capability (described by a have a lower limit to guarantee the desired recentering
Non Linear Elastic, NLE, behavior) and a Tension- contribution at a target drift level. Additionally, if cou-
Compression Yielding System, TCY, (Priestley 1996), lomb friction due to the post-tensioning is relied upon
with an hysteresis behavior similar to an emulative con- for partial shear transfer at the beam-column interface, a
crete system (i.e . stiffness degrading Takeda rule). The minimum prestress level should be guaranteed at any
properties of the flag-shape bysteresis would vary ac- time to sustain it. On the other hand, an upper bound of
cordingly (Figures 7 and 10). The static (maximum fea- the initial prestress has to be respected to maintain the
sible) residual deformation and the equivalent viscous tendons in the elastic range for the target interstorey
damping evaluated from the hysteretic rule can be drift level.
adopted as main design or assessment parameters. Sim- Dimension-less tables and design charts related to dif-
plified design charts as those shown in Fig. 7 (referring ferent section shapes and reinforcement layouts have
to a combination of a NLE and a degrading-stiffness been provided by Palermo (2004).
212 S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005
F F F
D
+ D D
1.0
Fo rce or Mo ment
0.4
Displacement or Rotation
(a)
60 F xp
β xp
80 If previously Fy 1
r k0
yielded
α
k u = k0 / µ ∆
− xy 1
Residual displacement
Takeda model xy
60
(% of max. displ)
40 parameters ku No previous
Damping (%)
1 − Fy yield
k0
α=0 β=1 1
α=0
α=0.5 β=1 40
20
20
α=0 β=0.2 α=0.5
α=0.5 β=0.2
0
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Moment contribution PT/mild steel
Moment contribution PT/mild steel
(b)
Fig. 7 Influence of the moment contribution ratio λ between prestressed and non-prestressed steel on a) the hysteresis
shape and on b) the key parameters of a hybrid system. Eample of design charts in terms of equivalent viscous damp-
ing and residual displacement for a given ductility level (Pampanin 2000; fib 2003; DZ3101 2005).
4.1 Force-based or displacement-based design the peculiar rocking behavior of these systems. Accord-
approach ing to a “flexible” design approach proposed by Pam-
Either a force-based or a displacement based design panin (2000), the self-centering and energy dissipation
procedure can be adopted for the design of jointed duc- contributions of a hybrid system, are recognized as key
tile precast concrete systems. Limits and drawbacks of design parameters (identified with the symbols ψ and ξ
traditional force-based design approaches have been respectively) and can be adequately selected while
well recognized and critically discussed in literature maintaining a given moment capacity. A first framework
(Priestley 1998). Moreover, a displacement-based de- for a Direct Displacement Based design procedure for
sign procedure would more naturally capture and control hybrid systems was proposed by Pampanin (2000) based
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 213
on the following modifications and integrations: Figure 8 shows a flow-chart of the proposed DBD
a) adoption of Residual Displacement R∆ as a secondary design for hybrid systems: the original DDBD design
target parameter in addition to the target Design Dis- procedure (Priestley 1998) is basically shown on the left
placement ∆d (from Design Drift θd); side and integrated with the introduction of Residual
b) definition of an adequate combination of energy dis- Displacement Spectra and residual-related compliance
sipation and self-centering capability of the equiva- criteria.
lent S.D.O.F. system to respect both the requirements, A more comprehensive displacement based design
by means of appropriate inelastic spectra; procedure for precast concrete jointed systems including
c) evaluation of the appropriate ratio of PT steel/mild design examples has been recently provided by Priestley
steel moment contribution ratio for the individual (2004).
connection detailing, for a given design base shear When using a force-based design approach, as typi-
and internal forces distribution, by means of design cally adopted in major seismic code provisions, appro-
charts similar to those shown in Fig. 7 priate values for the reduction factor R (or for the be-
DBDPROCEDURE
DBD PROCEDURE
Displacement Spectra
(hybrid hysteretic rule)
ξ = 5% (ψ =..)
ξ = 15% (ψ =..)
∆d ξ = 20% (ψ =..) Increase self-centering capability
(higher ψ)
Teff
ψ =.. (ξ=..)
ψ =.. (ξ=..)
Res∆≤ R∆?
Res∆ ψ =.. (ξ=..)
Teff YES
havior factor q as defined in the Eurocode 8) shall be models (FEM), fiber elements, multi-spring macro-
defined. As mentioned, provided an adequate amount of models and lumped plasticity approach. Particular em-
hysteresis damping is given to the flag-shape rule, the phasis has been given to the definition and refinement of
performance of a hybrid system is expected to be at least simplified methods, based on a section analysis ap-
as satisfactory as that of an equivalent monolithic system. proach, which may be suggested as a viable tool for reli-
Similar values for the reduction factors can thus be sug- able predictions of the seismic response of subassem-
gested to be adopted (Pampanin 2000). In more details, blies or of the whole systems. Investigations on the effi-
the reduction or behavior factor could be evaluated by ciency of simplified approaches to predict the response
interpolating between the value given to a monolithic of hybrid systems based on further analytical-
system (i.e. no post-tensioned tendons) or a fully experimental comparisons have been also recently pre-
prestressed system (i.e. no mild steel), depending on the sented by Palermo et al. 2005.
amount of hysteretic damping of the hybrid system At a global level, other issues related to beam elonga-
(NZS3101 2005). tion effects, to diaphragm flexibility and inelastic behav-
ior as well as to displacement incompatibility between
4.2 Modeling issues and alternative approaches floor and lateral-load resisting systems (either frame of
An overview of the main issues related to the analytical walls), indeed not peculiar to precast/prestressed sys-
modeling of these systems has been given by Pampanin tems but also expected in cast-in-place solutions, should
and Nishiyama (2002) and reported by fib (2003). be appropriately addressed (fib 2003; NZS3101 2005).
At a local level, when dealing with unbonded post- According to the proposed lumped plasticity approach,
tensioned tendons, partially ungrouted longitudinal mild the cyclic behaviour of a hybrid system can be simply
steel bars, or combination of the above, relatively sub- modeled with two rotational springs in parallel with ap-
stantial modifications are required when compared to a propriate hysteresis rules, i.e. NLE for the self-centering
“fully bonded” case (i.e. monolithic cast-in-situ systems). moment contribution of the unbonded tendons M (plusPT
In the critical section, the assumption of strain compati- axial load M ) and an appropriate dissipative rule (i.e.
N
bility between steel and concrete, typically required for Elasto-Plastic, Takeda, Friction or Viscous-Elastic) to
a section analysis approach, is violated. As a result, tra- represent the moment contribution of longitudinal mild
ditional section analysis methods, adopted to de- steel or of alternative typologies of energy dissipation
sign/assess monolithic bonded prestressed concrete devices, M s
Fig. 9 Modeling of an hybrid connections using a lumped plasticity approach: rotational springs in parallel (Pampanin et
al. 1999; 2001).
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 215
Elasto-plastic
M2
Mtot
Steel
Yielding =
θ θ
M1
Self-Cen +
tering
θ Hybrid
M2 Mtot
+
Nonlinear elastic =
θ θ
Friction
Sliding
Rigid-plastic
Fig. 10 Alternative Flag/shape hysteresis rule as combination of re-centering (Non Linear Elastic) and dissipative con-
tributions (Pampanin, 2000).
a) b)
Fig. 11 Alternative solutions for the Brooklyn Systems (proprietary solution, B.S. Italia s.r.l. Bergamo, Italy) : a) cable
stayed b) suspended.
ity of incorporating the structural concept and efficiency tributed upward load along the beam axis, according to a
of cable-stayed or suspended bridges within the skeleton load balancing concept.
of a typical multi-storey building, has been developed in Alternatively, for building with short-to-medium span
Italy after comprehensive research investigations started length, a cable-stayed solution based on inclined an-
in 1998 and integration with experience from on site chored bars with or without initial prestress can be
applications (Pagani, 2001, Pampanin et al. 2004). adopted (Fig. 11 left side). In this case, since inclined
In the suspended version of the system (Fig. 11 right bars are very sensitive to losses of prestress due their
side), continuous post-tensioned tendons, anchored at relative short length as well as geometrical imperfec-
the exterior columns of the frame, supply, through an tions (i.e. alignment of anchorage and/or prestressing
appropriate longitudinal profile, the desired moment jack with bars) they can be more efficiently used as non
resistance at the critical sections under combined gravity prestressed elastic additional restraints.
and lateral loads as well as an adequate uniformly dis- Initially conceived for gravity-dominated frame solu-
216 S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005
tions (low-to moderate seismicity regions), the Brooklyn 5.1 Key features of alternative hybrid systems
system has been recently developed for high-seismic The continuous and rapid development of jointed ductile
applications merging the characteristics and major ad- connections for seismic resisting systems have resulted
vantages of hybrid jointed ductile system, following the to the validation of a wide range of alternative arrange-
PRESSS-Technology, with the peculiarities of the emu- ments, under the general umbrella of “hybrid” systems,
lating-bridge systems. Preliminary experimental valida- currently available to designers and contractor for prac-
tions based on quasi-static cyclic tests on PRESSS- tical applications based on a case-by-case (cost-benefit)
Brooklyn hybrid beam-column joint exterior subassem- evaluation.
blies, carried out at the University of Canterbury as part As a further advantage, being these solutions based on
of an on-going experimental test campaign for the de- same basic original concepts, similar general design
velopment of alternative precast hybrid solutions, will criteria, modeling assumption and analytical tools can be
be briefly summarized in the following paragraphs. An adopted with minor appropriate modifications.
overview of practical on site applications of the system In addition to the design parameter λ, i.e. the moment
will be also given, consisting, at the present time, of ten contribution ratio, main key features differentiating al-
existing buildings (completed, plus few more under de- ternative solutions for hybrid systems for seismic resist-
sign or constraction) in regions of low seismicity in Italy. ing frames can be summarized as follows:
Fig. 13 Alternative arrangements of hybrid beam-column joints with internal or external energy dissipations tested at the
University of Canterbury.
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 217
memory alloys, visco-elastic systems), can lead to friction induced by the post/tensioning at the interface
alternative type of hysteretic dissipation (elasto- between beam and column for both gravity and lateral
plastic due to axial or flexural yielding, friction, loading. As a consequence, multi-storey columns could
visco-elastic, which leads to alternative flag-shape be built without the permanent corbel typically found in
loops, Fig. 10) implemented within a passive or precast concrete construction.
semi-active control approach. On the other side, conservative lower and upper limits
on the initial prestressing should be respected, in order
• Longitudinal profile of post-tensioned tendons: to, respectively, guarantee a minimum initial prestressed
straight or draped tendons/cables profiles or combi- force to carry the factored gravity loads as well as avoid
nation of the above (Fig. 14) can be adopted de- losses of prestress (thus shear carrying capacity) due to
pending on the ratio between gravity and lateral yielding of the tendons up to the drift level of 3.5%. The
loads effects, as a consequence of different level of use of frictional joints can thus significantly affect the
seismicity (target design earthquake) as well as of distribution of prestressing tendons, which cannot be
the assigned role of the system during the seismic fully exploited to counteract flexural effects, particularly
response (i.e. pure gravity-load carrying system, in the case of gravity load dominated frames.
pure seismic resisting system or intermediate solu- Furthermore, shear transfer mechanism based on pure
tions). friction are typically penalized (if not prohibited) by
major design codes as well as by the common practice
of design engineers. The recently revised NZ Concrete
It is worth noting that similar considerations on key
Code (NZS3101 2005, Appendix B), requires special
parameters differentiating hybrid system can be appro-
supports to carry the shear due to factored gravity loads,
priately extended to wall systems. In particular several
while only the shear (or part of that) induced by the lat-
types of either internal or external dissipation systems
eral loads can be assigned to the post/tensioning friction
have been developed for either single or coupled walls
contribution at the interface.
(through various devices or rocking post-tensioned
A controversial argument can also be raised on the
beams) (Priestley et al. 1999; Kurama and Shen 2004;
possible losses of prestressing due to beam-elongation
Holden et al. 2003).
effects in a multi/storey building.
In order to eliminate this shortcoming, the Brooklyn
5.2 Use of permanent steel corbel/bracket system was based on the introduction of a steel
A key feature of the original version of jointed systems, bracket/corbel (modified-Hercules), able to fully coun-
as developed in the PRESSS-program and accepted in teract the shear force transmitted by the beam to the
the ACI 318-05 code provisions (following the special column. In this way, the prestressing tendons have only
provisions for Hybrid Moment Frames provided by the to balance flexural stresses and large dimensions of the
ACI T1.2-03 document (2003)), was to rely on pure slab grid (i.e. 10 m x 12 m) can be achieved.
Fig. 14 Combination of draped and straight tendons profile (application of Brooklyn suspended solution, office building in
Varese, Italy (Pampanin et al. 2004)).
218 S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005
Moreover, a steel corbel produced following a con- sign and analysis purposes.
trolled process, typical of structural steel industry, can In the first phase of the research program the effi-
be regarded as a high-quality element, whose perform- ciency and structural performance of the proposed solu-
ance can be validated in advance by special and exhaus- tions (either cable-stayed or suspended version) were
tive laboratory tests. experimentally validated through monotonic cyclic tests
By “hiding” it in the depth of the beam, architectural on six one storey one-buy full-scale frame systems under
and aesthetic requirements can be also met. simulated gravity loads carried out at the Department of
Alternative versions of hidden steel corbel/brackets, Structural Mechanics of the University of Pavia (Fig.
either slotted or cable-stayed, developed and adopted in 16). An overview of the first phase experimental tests
the Brooklyn Systems, are shown in Fig.15. has been given in Pampanin et al. (2004). More detailed
information on the experimental program and results
5.3 Development of a PRESSS-Brooklyn hybrid will be presented in further publications under prepara-
system tion.
An extensive experimental campaign was carried out to At a local level, independent shear tests on the steel
investigate in more details the structural behaviour of corbel-to-column system were carried out at preliminary
the Brooklyn system at both local and global level as stages and consistently carried out during the evolutions
well as to calibrate simplified analytical models for de- of the alternative versions (i.e. slotted or cable-stayed).
Fig. 15 Alternative versions of hidden steel bracket: slotted or cable-stayed (Hercules systems, proprietary of B.S. Italia
srl).
Fig. 16 Test set-up (beam length not in scale) and experimental deformed shape of suspended solution frame.
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 219
The evolution towards a solution for high-seismicity oped a fuse and inserted in grouted metallic cylinders
has been developed by merging the know how of the used as anti-buckling restrainers. Adequate protection of
PRESSS and Brooklyn System research outcomes and the concrete compression zone was achieved by using
on-site applications. A comprehensive series of experi- light steel angles at the top and bottom corners of the
mental investigations on beam-column joint subassem- beam.
blies and frame systems implementing different afore- Preliminary results on quasi-static tests on the 2-D ex-
mentioned key features of hybrid systems (shear transfer terior beam-column subassemblies with alternative ar-
mechanism, source of energy dissipation, tendon profile) rangements confirmed the efficiency of the PRESSS-
are being carried out at the University of Canterbury. Brooklyn configuration. As shown in Fig. 18, a stable
Figure 17 shows the test set-up of an exterior beam- hysteresis flag-shape hysteresis behavior was observed,
column joint with a draped tendon configuration, a hid- showing an adequate amount of energy dissipation as
den shear key and external energy dissipation devices, well as full-recentering capability. The asymmetric be-
consisting on deformed bars machined down to devel- havior in terms of strength is due to the non-central posi-
Hidden shear
bracket
Fig. 17 PRESSS-Brooklyn hybrid beam-column subassembly: test-set-up and details of the dissipation devices.
PRESSS-BROOKLYN
Hybrid System
30
Lateral Force (kN)
20
10
0
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-10
-20
-30
Top Drift (%)
Fig. 18 PRESSS-Brooklyn hybrid system: gap-opening at 3% of drfit level and hysteresis loop.
220 S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005
tion of the cable within the section. hospital), plan configurations, beam and floor span
No evident loss of stiffness occurred thanks to the length as well as storey height (up to six), have been
protection of the concrete edge corners. No damage oc- currently designed and constructed in region of low
curred up to design drift in the structural elements, as seismicity (gravity-load dominated frames). Brief de-
expected by a properly-designed jointed ductile connec- scription of on-site applications has been given in Pa-
tion. gani (2002) and Pampanin et al. (2004).
Good level of flexibility in the structural configura-
6. On site applications tion was achieved, allowing to meet complex and articu-
lated architectural requirements (i.e. Fig. 20). In particu-
Several on site applications on precast jointed ductile lar the presence of inclined bars or continuous cables
systems, adopting PRESSS-type technology have been can allow to significantly reduce the depth of the struc-
implemented in different seismic-prone countries around tural beams, leading to more desired aesthetic solutions.
the words including U.S., Europe, South America, Japan, As mentioned, when adopting suspended solutions, a
and New Zealand. One of the first and most glamorous combination of straight and draped tendon profiles can
application of hybrid systems in high seismic regions be used within the same frame systems, which follow the
was given by the Paramount Building in San Francisco bending moment diagram due to gravity loads and run
(Fig. 19), consisting on a 39-storey apartment building the entire length of the frame to minimize the number of
and representing the higher precast concrete structure in anchorages (Fig. 14).
a high seismic zone (Englerkirk 2002). The construction process showed to be extremely ef-
First application presented in literature on the use of ficient, with beam column elements and floor units being
hybrid coupled wall systems, in addition to frame sys- quickly assembled into a modular building system (Figs.
tems, is given by the Cala Building in the Dominican 21-23), without the need for temporary supports (thanks
Republic (Stanton et al. 2003). Given the evident struc- to the adoption of steel brackets) nor any casting of con-
tural efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these systems nections. Metallic complementary elements were also
(e.g. high speed of erection) as well as the flexibility in embedded at the beam edges to accommodate and lock
the architectural features typical of precast concrete, the steel corbel. As a result, a non-invasive (well-
several applications of the Brooklyn System has also “hidden”) beam-column connection, when compared to
been implemented in Italy, based on either the cable traditional solution relying on concrete corbels in the
stayed or suspended solutions. Ten buildings, with dif- columns, was obtained.
ferent use (commercial, offices, exposition, industrial,
Fig. 19 From theory to practice. 39-storey apartament building in San Francisco, Paramount Building (Englerkirk, 2002):
rendering and construction site at 27/9/2000 .
S. Pampanin / Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology Vol. 3, No. 2, 207-223, 2005 221
Fig. 20 Plan view and elevation of the first application of the cable-stayed solution.
Hercules slotted
bracket
Fig. 21 Construction sequence for the Brooklyn cable stayed solution.
Fig. 22 Brooklyn cable-stayed solution: positioning, prestressing operation and patching of the inclined bars accommo-
dations.
Fig. 23 Structural skeletons of buildings under construction adopting the Brooklyn suspended solution.
Fig. 24 Evolution of seismic resisting connections: performance of beam-column joints designed according to pre-1970
codes (shear damage in the joint); following capacity design principles as per the NZS3101:1995 (beam plastic hinge)
and adopting hybrid jointed ductile connectionsas per NZS3101:2005 (controlled rocking system).