TY - GEN
T1 - Design of Looped Wire Rope Connections between Concrete Wall-Elements
T2 - Experimental Investigation and Establishment of Mechanical Model for the Anchorage Capacity of Looped Wire Ropes
AU - Veyhe, Torkil
PY - 2024/4/4
Y1 - 2024/4/4
N2 - In Denmark and many other countries, looped wire rope connections are the preferred method for connecting prefabricated RC wall elements.In Denmark and many other countries, the so-called looped wire rope connections are the preferred method for connecting prefabricated RC wall-elements. This
construction-friendly connection saves time during installation and reduces the risk
of damage under transportation. After installing the elements, the looped wire ropes
are unfolded, and a lacer bar is placed through the centre of the overlapping looped
wire ropes. Subsequently, the connection is grouted with mortar. The looped wire
ropes are anchored in the wall-element. Here, a ferrule (metallic connector around
the end of the wire rope) facilitates the anchorage. Models in the literature assume
that the looped wire ropes are adequately anchored in the wall-element without
further consideration. In practice, manufacturers’ guidelines are commonly used to
design the anchorage of looped wire ropes in wall-elements. However, there are concerns that these guidelines, based on unpublished experiments, may not account for
ductility and activation of multiple looped wire ropes. Moreover, it limits the ability
to optimise anchoring and reinforcement, which could reduce the CO2 footprint.Only two models for the anchorage capacity are available in the literature. Both
are proposed based on rough simplifications without any experimental evidence.
One proposes to use the bond strength of a straight wire rope to determine the
anchorage capacity, while the other proposes to use a model originally developed to
determine the capacity of a partially loaded concrete with failure mechanisms that
are not kinematically admissible for the anchorage of wire ropes. Consequently, no
reliable model exists to determine the anchorage capacity of a looped wire rope with
a ferrule in a wall-element.The aim of the PhD project is to develop experimentally verified mechanical
models for the anchorage capacity of looped wire ropes for wall connections.A literature study identifies that there are no published experiments for the anchorage of looped wire ropes, but there exist models and experiments with specimens
that resemble them. However, the literature study identifies a lack of experimental
evidence for specific failure mechanisms for looped wire ropes placed at an endconnection. There is also a lack of experimental investigation on failure mechanisms
related to bent looped wire ropes anchored in L- and T-connections.The thesis presents two large experimental campaigns where the anchorage capacity of looped wire ropes in concrete wall-elements is tested through direct tension
experiments. The experiments investigate the looped wire ropes placed at the end
and the side of the wall-elements, respectively. Mechanical models for the anchorage capacity are developed based on observed failure mechanisms and the upper
bound theorem of plasticity. These models are combined with existing models for
well-studied failure mechanisms in a complete model for anchorage capacity in endconnections, T-connections, and L-connections. The models are in good agreement
with experimental results, both in terms of capacity and predicted failure mechanisms.
Two additional experimental campaigns are presented to validate the developed
models. The two additional campaigns investigate if failure mechanisms observed
in the direct tension experiment and considered in the developed models are representative in a full connection where two wall-elements are connected and subjected
to shear. The anchorage model for wall connections subjected to shear is indirectly
validated by comparing it with experimentally found shear capacities of looped wire
rope connections. The anchorage capacity models are included as a limitation for
the shear model.Finally, it is discussed how the anchorage response affects the shear capacity of a
connection in practice. This includes the importance of having a ductile anchorage
response for wire ropes. Additionally, practical considerations are provided when
designing connections with multiple looped wire ropes to ensure a ductile response.
AB - In Denmark and many other countries, looped wire rope connections are the preferred method for connecting prefabricated RC wall elements.In Denmark and many other countries, the so-called looped wire rope connections are the preferred method for connecting prefabricated RC wall-elements. This
construction-friendly connection saves time during installation and reduces the risk
of damage under transportation. After installing the elements, the looped wire ropes
are unfolded, and a lacer bar is placed through the centre of the overlapping looped
wire ropes. Subsequently, the connection is grouted with mortar. The looped wire
ropes are anchored in the wall-element. Here, a ferrule (metallic connector around
the end of the wire rope) facilitates the anchorage. Models in the literature assume
that the looped wire ropes are adequately anchored in the wall-element without
further consideration. In practice, manufacturers’ guidelines are commonly used to
design the anchorage of looped wire ropes in wall-elements. However, there are concerns that these guidelines, based on unpublished experiments, may not account for
ductility and activation of multiple looped wire ropes. Moreover, it limits the ability
to optimise anchoring and reinforcement, which could reduce the CO2 footprint.Only two models for the anchorage capacity are available in the literature. Both
are proposed based on rough simplifications without any experimental evidence.
One proposes to use the bond strength of a straight wire rope to determine the
anchorage capacity, while the other proposes to use a model originally developed to
determine the capacity of a partially loaded concrete with failure mechanisms that
are not kinematically admissible for the anchorage of wire ropes. Consequently, no
reliable model exists to determine the anchorage capacity of a looped wire rope with
a ferrule in a wall-element.The aim of the PhD project is to develop experimentally verified mechanical
models for the anchorage capacity of looped wire ropes for wall connections.A literature study identifies that there are no published experiments for the anchorage of looped wire ropes, but there exist models and experiments with specimens
that resemble them. However, the literature study identifies a lack of experimental
evidence for specific failure mechanisms for looped wire ropes placed at an endconnection. There is also a lack of experimental investigation on failure mechanisms
related to bent looped wire ropes anchored in L- and T-connections.The thesis presents two large experimental campaigns where the anchorage capacity of looped wire ropes in concrete wall-elements is tested through direct tension
experiments. The experiments investigate the looped wire ropes placed at the end
and the side of the wall-elements, respectively. Mechanical models for the anchorage capacity are developed based on observed failure mechanisms and the upper
bound theorem of plasticity. These models are combined with existing models for
well-studied failure mechanisms in a complete model for anchorage capacity in endconnections, T-connections, and L-connections. The models are in good agreement
with experimental results, both in terms of capacity and predicted failure mechanisms.
Two additional experimental campaigns are presented to validate the developed
models. The two additional campaigns investigate if failure mechanisms observed
in the direct tension experiment and considered in the developed models are representative in a full connection where two wall-elements are connected and subjected
to shear. The anchorage model for wall connections subjected to shear is indirectly
validated by comparing it with experimentally found shear capacities of looped wire
rope connections. The anchorage capacity models are included as a limitation for
the shear model.Finally, it is discussed how the anchorage response affects the shear capacity of a
connection in practice. This includes the importance of having a ductile anchorage
response for wire ropes. Additionally, practical considerations are provided when
designing connections with multiple looped wire ropes to ensure a ductile response.
KW - Precast concrete wall connection
KW - Anchorage capacity
KW - Looped wire rope
KW - Concrete plasticity
KW - Limit analysis
KW - Rigid plastic modelling
KW - Experimental work
KW - Precast concrete T- and L-connection
KW - Præfabrikeret betonvægssamlinger
KW - Forankringskapacitet
KW - Wiresløjfe
KW - Plasticitetsteori
KW - Stivt-plastisk modellering
KW - Eksperimentelt arbejde
KW - Præfabrikeret beton T- og L-samlinger
U2 - 10.21996/qqmx-td71
DO - 10.21996/qqmx-td71
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
PB - Syddansk Universitet. Det Tekniske Fakultet
ER -