NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF PRECAST CONCRETE PANEL AND CONNECTIONS IN SMALL HEIGHT BUILDINGS: CASE STUDY

Abstract

The civil construction has intensified efforts in the search and implementation of strategies for the modernization of the sector, in which the rationalization of constructive processes has a crucial role. The most notable trends are related to employment of systems, wholly or partly pre-fabricated, able to maximize the potential of rationalization of enforcement proceedings. In this context, this study aims to analyze some important problems arising from the use of precast panels of closing in small height buildings or until 3 floors, application that has becoming very common in the country. The elements of analysis are panel-structure connections for gravity and bracing, vertical and lateral load, and thermal effects. Numerical analyzes are developed using the ANSYS computer program for the modeling of the problem. The physical nonlinear behavior of materials involved is considered in the simulations. The analyses show that thermal effects are critical at panels and connections considered. The presence of variable temperature results in out of plane displacements as well as increasing stress in the connections of concrete panels, particularly in the case of welded joints. Keywords: precast panel, building, numerical analysis.