Compressive strength of precast concrete joints employing bulk mechanical connection devices

Dry assembled precast concrete joints are increasingly employed for fast and high-quality construction throughout the world. As a matter of fact, metal devices needed to connect the different elements often introduce a strong discontinuity in the current cross-section due to their size and to the presence of cavities needed to assemble the joint. Within the framework of a wider research project jointly carried out between Politecnico di Milano and DLC Consulting Srl on an innovative wall system, axial tests on a reference monolithic benchmark and three single joint specimens differing by reinforcement and/or mortar filling details have been carried out. A critical interpretation of the test results and of the compressive behaviour of the joints is provided by means of a numerical investigation through nonlinear static analyses performed with the software Abaqus.