Moment resistance and rotation capacity of semi-rigid composite connections with precast hollowcore slabs

Semi-rigid composite connections with precast hollowcore slabs are a newly developed technique with few applications in current construction practice. The research on the structural behaviour of this new type of connection is limited, with no existing method available to predict its important characteristics such as moment and rotation capacities. In this paper, based on the parametric studies of the three-dimensional finite element model and full-scale tests, analytical methods to calculate the moment and rotation capacity of this type of composite joint are proposed. A comparison between the proposed calculation method and the full-scale test results was made, and good agreement was obtained.