Experimental tests have finished for the PREBUST project

In May and June we have been carrying out tests on a building-specimen for the PREBUST project. In April we were constructing the building-specimen, which was composed of precast components. The experimental program involved three tests, each consisting of the sudden removal of a specific edge or corner column. For this purpose, three of the building’s columns on the ground floor were replaced by steel columns incorporating a blocking-hinged mechanism, which was unblocked for testing.

With these tests we have been able to analyse the robustness of precast concrete structures subjected to extreme events on a real scale. The results of the tests have been very satisfactory, showing a maximum vertical displacement of the building of approximately 1.5 cm. It can therefore be concluded that precast concrete structures, with appropriate construction details, can activate alternative load paths and withstand significant local-initial failures without suffering disproportionate collapse. This results in a higher safety of this type of structures against possible failures or collapses.