Phase II - News and Update
Phase II focuses on advancing the safety and stability of rebar cages through an expanded scope of analysis and testing:
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Loading Conditions: Investigate and evaluate loading scenarios for both above- and below-grade rebar cages, incorporating temporary guying and bracing systems.
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Base Restraint Analysis: Explore minimum base connection requirements for stability without external bracing and examine the use of mechanical connectors for splicing and base strengthening.
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Failure Strength Testing: Perform comprehensive failure tests to determine allowable strength limits and establish safety factors for various cage configurations.
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Rectangular Rebar Cages: Broaden the research to include rectangular cages, addressing applications like diaphragm walls and prefabricated wall cages.
Task 1 - Loading Scenarios
Extensive literature review of temporary structures to identify relevant provisions and loading conditions for the design and assessment of rebar cages.
Task 2 - Testing of Mechanical Connectors
Component-level testing of mechanical connectors for parallel bar (splice) and cross bar connections to evaluate their effectiveness.
Task 3 - Full-Scale Experiments
Large-scale testing on circular and rectangular rebar cages with various configurations to assess performance under realistic conditions.