Development of a Precast Column Solution Using Precast Prestressed Concrete Piles Filled with Cast-In-Place Concrete

This paper examines a novel construction method utilizing Precast Prestressed Concrete Piles (PCP) filled with concrete cast-in-place, working as one complete column to evaluate their structural performance under varying levels of eccentricity, with the goal of introducing a new precast column system. A control specimen was constructed cast-in-place following traditional methods according to current bridge design standards and tested to establish a baseline for comparison. Once the behavior and performance of the control specimen were understood, the proposed construction methodology was applied to fabricate four specimens. These specimens were designed to investigate the effects of the internal roughness of the precast elements (PCP) and the embedment length for the connectors to the foundation and the bent cap. The specimens underwent testing using the same procedures as the control specimen to evaluate their performance and the influential factors. Test results indicated that precast specimens with a sufficiently long embedment length exhibited performance comparable to the control specimen, despite differences in internal roughness among the specimens. Conversely, precast columns featuring an intentionally roughened interior and a shorter embedment length displayed a decrease in load-carrying capacity. A composite section was achieved between the precast prestressed pile and the cast-in-place core without employing shear connectors, resulting in a satisfactory non-contact splice of the connectors in the core and prestressed strands in the pile section. This finding suggests that the proposed methodology can be effectively utilized in future construction projects.