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In the framework of the SAFECAST Project, a full-scale three-storey precast building was subjected to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA). The mock-up was constructed in such a way that four different structural configurations could be investigated experimentally. Therefore, the behaviour of various parameters like the types of mechanical connections (traditional as well as innovative) and the presence or absence of shear walls along with the framed structure were investigated. The first PsD tests were conducted on a dual frame-wall precast system, where two precast shear wall units were connected to the mock up. The first test structure sustained the maximum earthquake for which it had been designed with small horizontal deformations. In the second layout, the shear walls were disconnected from the structure, to test the building in its most typical configuration, namely with hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bars (shear connectors). This configuration was quite flexible and suffered large deformations under the design level earthquake. An innovative connection system, embedded in the precast elements, was then activated to create emulative beam–column connections in the last two structural configurations. In particular, in the third layout the connectors were restrained only at the top floor, whereas in the fourth layout the connection system was activated in all beam–column joints. The PsD test results showed that, when activated at all the floors, the proposed connection system is quite effective as a means of implementing dry precast (quasi) emulative moment-resisting frames.

A full-scale three-storey precast building was tested under seismic conditions at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment in the framework of the SAFECAST project. The unique research opportunity of testing a complete structural system was exploited to the maximum extent by subjecting the structure to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests and by using four different structural layouts of the same mock-up, while 160 sensors were used to monitor the global and local response of each layout. Dry mechanical connections were adopted to realize the joints between: floor-to-floor, floor-to-beam, wall-to-structure; column (and wall)-to-foundation and beam-to-column. Particular emphasis was given to the seismic behavior of mechanical beam–column connections, as well as to the response of floor diaphragms. Thus, the in-plane rigidity of three pretopped diaphragms with or without openings was assessed. In addition, two types of beam-to-column connections were investigated experimentally, namely hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bar and emulative beam–column joints by means of dry innovative mechanical connections. Therefore, the seismic behavior of floor diaphragms and pinned beam–column connections in a multi-storey precast building was addressed experimentally. The results demonstrated that the proposed new beam-to-column connection system is a viable solution toward enhancing the response of precast RC frames subjected to seismic loads, in particular when the system is applied to all joints and quality measures are enforced in the execution of the joints.

In the framework of the SAFECAST Project, a full-scale three-storey precast building was subjected to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA). The mock-up was constructed in such a way that four different structural configurations could be investigated experimentally. Therefore, the behaviour of various parameters like the types of mechanical connections (traditional as well as innovative) and the presence or absence of shear walls along with the framed structure were investigated. The first PsD tests were conducted on a dual frame-wall precast system, where two precast shear wall units were connected to the mock up. The first test structure sustained the maximum earthquake for which it had been designed with small horizontal deformations. In the second layout, the shear walls were disconnected from the structure, to test the building in its most typical configuration, namely with hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bars (shear connectors). This configuration was quite flexible and suffered large deformations under the design level earthquake. An innovative connection system, embedded in the precast elements, was then activated to create emulative beam–column connections in the last two structural configurations. In particular, in the third layout the connectors were restrained only at the top floor, whereas in the fourth layout the connection system was activated in all beam–column joints. The PsD test results showed that, when activated at all the floors, the proposed connection system is quite effective as a means of implementing dry precast (quasi) emulative moment-resisting frames.

A full-scale three-storey precast building was tested under seismic conditions at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment in the framework of the SAFECAST project. The unique research opportunity of testing a complete structural system was exploited to the maximum extent by subjecting the structure to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests and by using four different structural layouts of the same mock-up, while 160 sensors were used to monitor the global and local response of each layout. Dry mechanical connections were adopted to realize the joints between: floor-to-floor, floor-to-beam, wall-to-structure; column (and wall)-to-foundation and beam-to-column. Particular emphasis was given to the seismic behavior of mechanical beam–column connections, as well as to the response of floor diaphragms. Thus, the in-plane rigidity of three pretopped diaphragms with or without openings was assessed. In addition, two types of beam-to-column connections were investigated experimentally, namely hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bar and emulative beam–column joints by means of dry innovative mechanical connections. Therefore, the seismic behavior of floor diaphragms and pinned beam–column connections in a multi-storey precast building was addressed experimentally. The results demonstrated that the proposed new beam-to-column connection system is a viable solution toward enhancing the response of precast RC frames subjected to seismic loads, in particular when the system is applied to all joints and quality measures are enforced in the execution of the joints.

A full-scale three-storey precast building was tested under seismic conditions at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment in the framework of the SAFECAST project. The unique research opportunity of testing a complete structural system was exploited to the maximum extent by subjecting the structure to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests and by using four different structural layouts of the same mock-up, while 160 sensors were used to monitor the global and local response of each layout. Dry mechanical connections were adopted to realize the joints between: floor-to-floor, floor-to-beam, wall-to-structure; column (and wall)-to-foundation and beam-to-column. Particular emphasis was given to the seismic behavior of mechanical beam–column connections, as well as to the response of floor diaphragms. Thus, the in-plane rigidity of three pretopped diaphragms with or without openings was assessed. In addition, two types of beam-to-column connections were investigated experimentally, namely hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bar and emulative beam–column joints by means of dry innovative mechanical connections. Therefore, the seismic behavior of floor diaphragms and pinned beam–column connections in a multi-storey precast building was addressed experimentally. The results demonstrated that the proposed new beam-to-column connection system is a viable solution toward enhancing the response of precast RC frames subjected to seismic loads, in particular when the system is applied to all joints and quality measures are enforced in the execution of the joints.

In the framework of the SAFECAST Project, a full-scale three-storey precast building was subjected to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA). The mock-up was constructed in such a way that four different structural configurations could be investigated experimentally. Therefore, the behaviour of various parameters like the types of mechanical connections (traditional as well as innovative) and the presence or absence of shear walls along with the framed structure were investigated. The first PsD tests were conducted on a dual frame-wall precast system, where two precast shear wall units were connected to the mock up. The first test structure sustained the maximum earthquake for which it had been designed with small horizontal deformations. In the second layout, the shear walls were disconnected from the structure, to test the building in its most typical configuration, namely with hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bars (shear connectors). This configuration was quite flexible and suffered large deformations under the design level earthquake. An innovative connection system, embedded in the precast elements, was then activated to create emulative beam–column connections in the last two structural configurations. In particular, in the third layout the connectors were restrained only at the top floor, whereas in the fourth layout the connection system was activated in all beam–column joints. The PsD test results showed that, when activated at all the floors, the proposed connection system is quite effective as a means of implementing dry precast (quasi) emulative moment-resisting frames.

In the framework of the SAFECAST Project, a full-scale three-storey precast building was subjected to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA). The mock-up was constructed in such a way that four different structural configurations could be investigated experimentally. Therefore, the behaviour of various parameters like the types of mechanical connections (traditional as well as innovative) and the presence or absence of shear walls along with the framed structure were investigated. The first PsD tests were conducted on a dual frame-wall precast system, where two precast shear wall units were connected to the mock up. The first test structure sustained the maximum earthquake for which it had been designed with small horizontal deformations. In the second layout, the shear walls were disconnected from the structure, to test the building in its most typical configuration, namely with hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bars (shear connectors). This configuration was quite flexible and suffered large deformations under the design level earthquake. An innovative connection system, embedded in the precast elements, was then activated to create emulative beam–column connections in the last two structural configurations. In particular, in the third layout the connectors were restrained only at the top floor, whereas in the fourth layout the connection system was activated in all beam–column joints. The PsD test results showed that, when activated at all the floors, the proposed connection system is quite effective as a means of implementing dry precast (quasi) emulative moment-resisting frames.

A full-scale three-storey precast building was tested under seismic conditions at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment in the framework of the SAFECAST project. The unique research opportunity of testing a complete structural system was exploited to the maximum extent by subjecting the structure to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests and by using four different structural layouts of the same mock-up, while 160 sensors were used to monitor the global and local response of each layout. Dry mechanical connections were adopted to realize the joints between: floor-to-floor, floor-to-beam, wall-to-structure; column (and wall)-to-foundation and beam-to-column. Particular emphasis was given to the seismic behavior of mechanical beam–column connections, as well as to the response of floor diaphragms. Thus, the in-plane rigidity of three pretopped diaphragms with or without openings was assessed. In addition, two types of beam-to-column connections were investigated experimentally, namely hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bar and emulative beam–column joints by means of dry innovative mechanical connections. Therefore, the seismic behavior of floor diaphragms and pinned beam–column connections in a multi-storey precast building was addressed experimentally. The results demonstrated that the proposed new beam-to-column connection system is a viable solution toward enhancing the response of precast RC frames subjected to seismic loads, in particular when the system is applied to all joints and quality measures are enforced in the execution of the joints.

In the framework of the SAFECAST Project, a full-scale three-storey precast building was subjected to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA). The mock-up was constructed in such a way that four different structural configurations could be investigated experimentally. Therefore, the behaviour of various parameters like the types of mechanical connections (traditional as well as innovative) and the presence or absence of shear walls along with the framed structure were investigated. The first PsD tests were conducted on a dual frame-wall precast system, where two precast shear wall units were connected to the mock up. The first test structure sustained the maximum earthquake for which it had been designed with small horizontal deformations. In the second layout, the shear walls were disconnected from the structure, to test the building in its most typical configuration, namely with hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bars (shear connectors). This configuration was quite flexible and suffered large deformations under the design level earthquake. An innovative connection system, embedded in the precast elements, was then activated to create emulative beam–column connections in the last two structural configurations. In particular, in the third layout the connectors were restrained only at the top floor, whereas in the fourth layout the connection system was activated in all beam–column joints. The PsD test results showed that, when activated at all the floors, the proposed connection system is quite effective as a means of implementing dry precast (quasi) emulative moment-resisting frames.

A full-scale three-storey precast building was tested under seismic conditions at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment in the framework of the SAFECAST project. The unique research opportunity of testing a complete structural system was exploited to the maximum extent by subjecting the structure to a series of pseudodynamic (PsD) tests and by using four different structural layouts of the same mock-up, while 160 sensors were used to monitor the global and local response of each layout. Dry mechanical connections were adopted to realize the joints between: floor-to-floor, floor-to-beam, wall-to-structure; column (and wall)-to-foundation and beam-to-column. Particular emphasis was given to the seismic behavior of mechanical beam–column connections, as well as to the response of floor diaphragms. Thus, the in-plane rigidity of three pretopped diaphragms with or without openings was assessed. In addition, two types of beam-to-column connections were investigated experimentally, namely hinged beam–column connections by means of dowel bar and emulative beam–column joints by means of dry innovative mechanical connections. Therefore, the seismic behavior of floor diaphragms and pinned beam–column connections in a multi-storey precast building was addressed experimentally. The results demonstrated that the proposed new beam-to-column connection system is a viable solution toward enhancing the response of precast RC frames subjected to seismic loads, in particular when the system is applied to all joints and quality measures are enforced in the execution of the joints.