Analytical modelling of the seismic behaviour of precast concrete frames designed with ductile connections

Pure precast beam-column systems incorporate unbonded reinforced at the cri tical sections, causing strain incompatibility between steel and concrete. As a result, classical section analysis method, well know for characterisin g monolithic concrete members, cannot be directly applicable to these syste ms. This paper provides a section analysis method suitable for precast memb ers, incorporating, through an analogy with equivalent cast-in-place soluti on named "monolithic beam analogy", an additional condition on the member g lobal displacement. The proposed method was first validated with the experi mental data from tests on beam-column Hybrid subassemblages. Using appropri ate hysteresis rules and the response envelopes defined by the section anal ysis method, a prediction of the behaviour of the PRESSS test building was carried out. Satisfactory agreements obtained between the analytical and ex perimental results confirm the validity of the suggested methodology. Deriv ation of the method and experimental validation are herein presented.