Wet-joint techniques for the construction of precast concrete pipe rack structures in remote seismic zones

This paper presents a precast concrete solution developed for the construction of pipe rack structures in petrochemical plants. It is based on the prefabrication of concrete columns and beams connected on-site by a wet joint. The solution is characterized by high strength and ductile behavior in the plastic range, and ease of in-plant fabrication and on-site assembly. Experimental tests conducted on reduced-scale structures verified that the behavior of the prefabricated solution during an earthquake is comparable to, if not better than, that of the corresponding cast-in-place concrete solution awhile fulfilling the requirement of the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI’s) Acceptance Criteria for Moment Frames Based on Structural Testing (ACI 374.1-05). The proposed precast concrete solution economically mimics the behavior of monolithic reinforced concrete frames. A case study of several pipe rack structures in a remote seismic zone has been presented to underscore the benefits achievable with this technique in terms of duration and safety of the construction process.