Investigation of a new connection type in the precast foundation – column connection under cycling loading

Prefabricated buildings have many advantages such as rapid construction technique and low cost. Therefore, especially in works that need rapid production is preferred too. The main reason for the rapid production is the production of the main load-bearing elements in a production facility and assembling at the construction site. The fact that the production is done separately for each element leads to the failure to achieve the monolithic structure behavior which is an advantage in traditional reinforced concrete structure behavior. The prefabricated elements are connected in construction site by using different connection methods. However, these connections are not very successful with the experience obtained from the earthquakes in previous years. Especially in socket systems developed for foundation-column connection, the gap left between the socket and the column during installation is covered with filler concrete. The filling concrete forms a cold joint between the socket and the column. Therefore, a crush that may occur in the filling concrete during an earthquake will eliminate the fixed support behavior accepted in the foundation-column connection and will occur the collapse mechanism almost without benefiting from the structural elements. In the production phase, after the foundation manufactured at the construction site is waited, the socket is manufactured on the foundation. Considering that this production is carried out in approximately 4 days, a significant loss of time occurs. After the socket production, the exact placement of the column on the axis during the column assembly is left to the ability of the assembly team, in short, the error caused by human factors is prepared. Errors made during the assembly cause problems such as insufficient or too much opening in the truss beam assembly especially in the upper structure part. Considering all these disadvantages, innovative solutions for foundation-column connections are sought by the industry. The aim of this study is to provide a foundation-column connection with anchor rods and to eliminate the negativities that occur during the production, during installation and in structural behavior under earthquake. At the end of the experimental studies, a connection type with high lateral load resistance capacity, high energy distribution capacity and high ductility has been proposed as an alternative to the socket connection.