Predicting the Seismic Behavior of the Dywidag Ductile Connector (DDC) Precast Concrete System

Predicting the Seismic Behavior of the Dywidag Ductile Connector (DDC) Precast Concrete System Elizabeth Mary Kenyon Structural engineering is heavily dependent on the use of computers. When creating a building model using structural analysis software, it is required that the designer have an understanding of the system behavior and the modeling program capabilities. Some engineers in the Southern California region are taking steps towards incorporating the Dywidag ductile connector (DDC) and super hybrid systems into building practice due to the advantages found in these systems’ construction methods and seismic performance. As the DDC and super hybrid systems reach industry, the design engineer will need to model these systems using structural analysis programs. This report describes two DDC specimens that were each modeled two ways: (1) using elastic members in conjunction with nonlinear rotational hinges (lumped plasticity model), and (2) using finite elements (fiber model). The experimental pushover curve for each test specimen was compared to the corresponding analytical backbone curves. The fiber modeling focuses on providing a means to study the joint behavior as the parameters of the system change. The lumped plasticity model provides the design engineer with a means for modeling a three-dimensional DDC building in order to get acceptable global demand values. This project offers modeling suggestions for both the fiber models and the lumped plasticity models used to predict the seismic behavior of the DDC precast concrete system.