ABSTRACT
In this study, five precast bridge pier specimens are tested under direct shear load, and each specimen are with the same design except for connection details. Comparisons are investigated among different connection details, including (1) adhesive material, (2) existence of shear key, (3) steel grade, and (4) embedment location of grouted splice sleeve connectors (GSSCs). According to test results, there are two types of failure caused by the embedment location of GSSC, and they are column shear failure followed by connection slip and direct connection slip without column failure. Other factors are of minor impact on the overall shear failure of specimens: epoxy exhibits lower shear resistance than high strength mortar, lower grade of longitudinal rebars results in shear strength decrease, and shear keys are of little influence on the overall shear performance of the specimen. A new theoretic model for shear strength calculation is then proposed based on the test results for both failure types. The model regards the shear failure of column segment as a combined strut-and-tie and truss model, and the shear failure of connection slip is considered through friction force and stirrups. From comparison between test results and theoretic values, they are within 5% in difference, which is more accurate than other methods in this case. This shows that the proposed model is theoretically feasible in the evaluation of shear strength for short precast bridge piers with GSSCs.
