Summary of

"Effective Joining of Pre-cast Concrete Slabs with Self-compacting HSFRCC" paper

The paper provides an experimental study on the application of high-strength fiber-reinforced

cementitious composites (HSFRCC) for precast concrete slab joining. The objective of this research
aim to reduce joint size and simplify design in order to enhance construction efficiency.

Several experiments are carried out to determine the bond length required between the HSFRCC
and reinforcing bars in order to ensure steel yielding before bond failure. As material cost is limited,
the fibre content of the HSFRCC was set at 2%. The authors used steel bars embedded in HSFRCC
with a compressive strength of 150 MPa to perform a direct Tension Pull-out Bond Test. The test
criteria comprised different anchorage lengths that vary with steel bar diameter (5d, 8d), and
different types of steel bars, such as straight, hooked, and nut at the end are adopted. The findings
revealed that an anchorage length of 8d is adequate for steel yielding to occur in a joint containing
2% micro-steel fibre. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness of the HSFRCC joint, the authors
prepared and tested monolithic slabs as well as slabs with HSFRCC joints in bending. Both types of
slabs exhibited similar load displacement performance to indicate the effectiveness of the HSFRCC
joint.

The paper highlights the importance of joint design in precast concrete structures, emphasizing the
need for simple reinforcement details and small joint widths. A shorter joint width reduces the
energy required for heating in cold regions. The width of the joint is governed by the bond capacity
between the reinforcing steel and concrete. Conventionally, the transfer length is designed to be
long enough for full yielding of steel reinforcements to occur. However, this approach increases
both the cost and construction time.

The importance of joint design in precast concrete structures is emphasised in the study, with a
focus on basic reinforcement elements and small joint widths. A shorter joint width lowers the
amount of energy required for heating in cold climates. The bond capacity of the reinforcing steel
and concrete governs the width of the joint. Traditionally, the transfer length is intended to be long
enough to allow for full yielding of steel reinforcements. However, this method raises both the cost
and the duration of construction.

The paper concludes that HSFRCC can significantly reduce the required bond length for steel
yielding to occur. By using superplasticizer, HSFRCC with high strength and self-compacting
behavior can be produced, facilitating the preparation of short joints without the need for
compaction. The authors emphasize the feasibility of small and simple joints in precast concrete
slabs that behave similarly to monolithic slabs in bending. The study provides valuable insights for
the practical application of HSFRCC in joining precast concrete elements.

Overall, the experimental study presented in the paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using
HSFRCC for joining precast concrete slabs. The findings contribute to improving construction
efficiency by minimizing joint size and simplifying joint design.