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Precast Column Base - Options

This document discusses three options for precast column base connections: socket connection, starter bars, and bolted connection. The socket connection involves placing the column in a concrete socket for grouting. Starter bars require holes and grouting for rebars protruding from the foundation. The bolted connection is the fastest using anchor bolts cast in the foundation and column shoes, taking only 20 minutes to install per column. Bolted connections allow moment resistance immediately and easier adjustments if needed.

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264 views2 pages

Precast Column Base - Options

This document discusses three options for precast column base connections: socket connection, starter bars, and bolted connection. The socket connection involves placing the column in a concrete socket for grouting. Starter bars require holes and grouting for rebars protruding from the foundation. The bolted connection is the fastest using anchor bolts cast in the foundation and column shoes, taking only 20 minutes to install per column. Bolted connections allow moment resistance immediately and easier adjustments if needed.

Uploaded by

kamakshi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Precast column base- Options

Choosing precast concrete columns is bound to make frame erection faster and more

efficient. But have you considered what kind of an impact the column connection can make

to your overall building process? Let’s take a look at the three prominent column

connection methods.

Socket connection

This is undoubtledly a tried and true method – to the extent that even the ancient Romans used
it. They dug a hole in the ground, erected the column in the hole and used grout made out of
volcanic ash to secure the column in place.

Today the process is more or less the same, except that the hole in the ground is often
substituted with a socket made of concrete. This socket can be precast or it can be cast in situ.
Either way, columns need to be supported and set in the exact position with wooden wedges or
similar. After grouting, it’s impossible to make any adjustments if the need arises.

Starter bars

Starter bar column connection relies on rebars protruding from the foundation. 

In the column, you need to have holes for the starter bars and grout. Typically, this is done in
the precast factory during casting with corrugated pipes or similar. When the column is erected,
it has to be supported and non-shrink grout needs to be manually poured to secure the
connection. Care must be taken to position the column properly while the grout cures.

Some markets require that the rebars project from the column. In this scenario, holes for the
starter bars and grout need to be fabricated in the foundation.

Bolted connection

As its name implies, a bolted column connection is made with anchor bolts. Cast into the
foundation using a template, the anchor bolts transfer tension, compression and shear forces
to the reinforced concrete base structure. The bolt counterparts – column shoes – are cast in to
the columns at a precast factory.
A moment-resisting connection is made quickly by lowering the column in place and tightening
the nuts to specified torque with readily available hand tools. The installation process takes on
average 20 minutes per column and requires only a crane operator and two people on the
ground.

The connection is finalized by grouting the anchor bolt recesses and joint underneath the
column with non-shrink grout. Note that the connection is moment-resisting and safe as soon
as the nuts are tightened – there is no need to use wedges and braces while waiting for the
grout to cure.

A bolted connection can also be used to create a column to column splice, which is impossible
to do with a socket method or with starter bars.

Also note that a bolted connection allows you to reduce foundation thickness and to avoid
interfering with existing structures. Choosing a bolted connection will also reduce the
excavation depth and costs.

Column connections in seismic areas

Bolted connections can also be used in seismic areas, where the main objective is to ensure
that the building sustains earthquakes without collapsing. Most design approaches solve this by
keeping a certain reserve of the strength in the structures. In other words, they are often
overdesigned and oversized. An energy dissipating bolted connection can help you save up to
20% of concrete thanks to slenderer cross-sections of the column compared to overdesigned
and oversized connections.

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