DYWIDAG Ductile Connector®
Advantages and Characteristics
The DYWIDAG Ductile Connector makes it possible to build safe, totally precast structures in areas of moderate and high seismicity.
- Fast Erection
- Single Trade Erection
- No Temporary Bracing
- ICBO Approved
- No Welding
- All Bolted
- No Structural Grouting
- The DYWIDAG Ductile Connector® (DDC®) is manufactured from high-quality steel especially selected for its excellent ductility and resistance to large strain reversals.
- The DDC makes it possible for beam-column joints and column-footing joints of totally precast structures to develop the flexural capacity and a hysteretic behavior which is superior to that of monolithic connections.
- Little or no repairs required after a moderate earthquake.
- The required inelastic response of the connection is completely provided by the DDC® steel elements at the beam-column interface. This allows the use of very high strength reinforcing bars in the beam, which eliminates steel congestion.
- All reinforcing steel bars and elements are made continuous through the beam-column joints by threaded connections, which eliminates the risk of bond-slip failures.
- Vertical shear force transfer across the beam-column interface is guaranteed either by torqued high strength threaded connections or passively provided by flexural induced friction.
First Application of the DYWIDAG Ductile Connector®
The innovative solution for safe, totally precast construction in seismic zones.The Wiltern Center parking structure consists of four 191 x 210 ft. floors with a total area of 160,000 sq. ft. Eight ductile frames are evenly distributed throughout each floor plate. The entire load resisting system of standard precast concrete members was precast offsite and assembled merely by bolting the beams to the columns.The erection process was simple. Precast columns were placed over temporary guide studs inserted into the ductile rods that were cast into the footing. Shims were set to plumb the column at the appropriate height, and then the bolts were manually tightened. Once the columns were in place, precast beams were lowered into position.Two bolts were placed at the bottom of the beam and tightened using a calibrated torque wrench once the beam was properly aligned. The total erection time for each frame was between 5 and 8 hours, and the entire precast concrete system required only 16 working days to be completed.
"DDC®" is a registered and patented brand. Reference to this must be indicated when this brand is used by a third party. Misuse will be prosecuted (§§4, 14 German Brandlaw).