Civil Engineering and Architecture 10(7): 3264-3289, 2022 http://www.hrpub.org
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100736
Seismic Pushover Analysis of Global Emulative
Response of Precast Reinforced Concrete Frames with
Dextra Groutec Couplers
Charmaine Kay M. Guanlao
1,*
, Gilford B. Estores
2
1
School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Mapua University,
Manila, 1002, Philippines
2
School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mapua University,
Manila, 1002, Philippines
Received June 14, 2022; Revised August 3, 2022; Accepted September 19, 2022
Cite This Paper in the Following Citation Styles
(a): [1] Charmaine Kay M. Guanlao, Gilford B. Estores , "Seismic Pushover Analysis of Global Emulative Response of
Precast Reinforced Concrete Frames with Dextra Groutec Couplers," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 10, No.
7, pp. 3264 - 3289, 2022. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100736.
(b): Charmaine Kay M. Guanlao, Gilford B. Estores (2022). Seismic Pushover Analysis of Global Emulative Response of
Precast Reinforced Concrete Frames with Dextra Groutec Couplers. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 10(7), 3264 -
3289. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100736.
Copyright©2022 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License
Abstract The effects of Dextra Groutec couplers on
the global performance of precast reinforced concrete
frames are investigated by comparing the performance
criteria of conventional RC structures to that of the said
structures such that precast elements are connected
end-to-end using these couplers. As couplers provide
continuity of the reinforcement, precast elements that are
connected using this mechanism can perform as a unit, and
the entire structural system can be considered emulative as
long as the structural performance is comparable to that of
the conventionally designed cast-in-place. Dextra couplers
inherently have lower strain compared to reinforcing rebar,
affecting the global performance of a structure if placed
within critical regions such as near the beam-column
connection. The present study is conducted therefore to
perform a comparative study to determine the effect of
these couplers on the emulative behavior of the precast
frames to the cast-in-place frames by considering the
following factors: Coupler location, Dextra Groutec
Coupler size and length, and the story height of the frame.
Static pushover analysis of 30 models is carried out using
the finite element software, Seismostruct. Pushover curves
are compared based on the three criteria such as global
ultimate displacement, displacement ductility, and energy
dissipation. The results revealed that the Dextra Groutec
Couplers reduce the capacity of the precast frame
according to the three performance criteria. Hybrid
configuration, where the bottom part is CIP and the upper
part is precast connected by couplers is found to be the
most viable option to obtain an emulative response. The
longer and bigger Dextra Groutec coupler, S28 also
manifested more inferior performance compared to S25.
Lastly, the height of the structure is not a strong factor in
the emulative response except for the hybrid and coupler
placed at D distance away from the joint face
configurations.
Keywords Couplers, Precast, Pushover, Emulative,
Seismostruct
1. Introduction
Precast concrete is a type of concrete that is prepared
off-site, usually in a controlled environment. The casting
and curing of concrete are done on a plant and are
transported to a site for erection. Precast concrete
structures have long been utilized in the global
construction industry for several decades because of the
numerous advantages they offer. Reduction of on-site
construction duration and manpower implies that project