Proposal of a New Partially Precast Pier Cap System and Experimental Verification of its Structural Performance

The purpose of this study is to suggest a new partially precast pier cap system and to experimentally verify its structural performance. The optimum shape and reinforcement detail of the partially precast pier cap were first derived and an improved manufacturing process in the precast plant and on-site was suggested. The new pier cap system offers benefits in terms of economy and quality management, and it can be constructed more rapidly than the conventional pier cap and fully precast pier cap. The specimens were manufactured at a one-half size of the original scale for structural tests. The tests highlighted that the loads at cracking, yielding and failure of the partially precast pier cap were almost identical to those of the conventional pier cap. Consequently, this study verified that the partially precast pier cap system can be applied for actual design and construction of the pier caps.