Development and systematic review of connection techniques for RC Precast structural elements: Beam and Column...

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Precast reinforced concrete (RC) structures are gaining global traction due to efficiency and sustainability.
• Their widespread adoption is hindered by unique seismic performance and construction complexities.
• Nodal connections are critical for the integrity and seismic resilience of precast RC structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review and systematically analyze nodal connection techniques in precast RC structures.
• To identify current trends, research gaps, and challenges in the field of precast RC structural connections.
• To evaluate the seismic performance and practical constructability of various connection methods.

Main Methods:

• A data-driven literature review using the Web of Science database.
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis of collected research papers.
• Visualization of scientific trends and citation network analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified diverse nodal connection techniques for precast RC structures.
• Documented historical and current research trends in seismic performance and connection design.
• Highlighted experimental validation of good seismic performance for several connection types.

Conclusions:

• While experimental results for precast RC nodal connections are promising for seismic performance, practical implementation faces significant hurdles.
• Complexity in construction and long-term maintenance remain critical challenges for widespread adoption.
• Further research is needed to bridge the gap between experimental findings and real-world application of precast RC structures.