Patent attributes
The precast reinforced concrete construction elements with pre-stressing connectors provide beam-column connections which are post-tensioned through a combination of active and passive pre-stressing tendons. The active pre-stressing tendons improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the beam-column connections under service loads, as well as during application of external forces and stresses, such as during earthquakes. The passive pre-stressing tendons are lightly pre-stressed and only become effective during progressive collapse of the building. Specifically, the passive pre-stressing tendons become stressed only during downward movement of a joint due to the loss/damage of a column, thus providing resistance against further downward movement of the joint and thereby resisting the progressive collapse.
