Bolted steel plates for rigidly connecting decks to beams in precast concrete flooring systems

Given the pivotal role of connections in the advancement of the precast building industry, issues such as low adaptability, construction difficulties, chain collapse, and low robustness are critical considerations, demanding the design and study of new types of connections that meet the standards and can be practically used in the industry. The current study proposes and examines, experimentally and numerically, a connection method for rigidly combining two precast decks positioned on top of a beam. Two steel plates are positioned at the top middle of the two precast floors and the underside of the beam, with highly post-tensioned bolts, ensuring a rigid connection between all elements. This research includes 12 parametric experimental and corresponding numerical studies to analyze the performance of the connections under shear and bending, with parameters including floor height, bolt dimensions, and beam width. The initial calculation approach for the connection is described and compared to empirical findings. Various failure modes, including bending, shear, and rupture of the post-tensioning bolts, may occur depending on the selected geometric parameters. The proposed connections demonstrate a high capacity for carrying up to $84\%$ of the load borne by monolithic elements.