Influence of Geometrical Parameters on Performance of Grouted Mortise and Tenon Joints for Application in Prefabricated Underground Structures

Abstract

Prefabricated underground structures were first researched in China to address the serious social and environmental issues associated with underground construction. Five metro stations have been built on Line 2 of the Changchun Metro in China using this new prefabrication technology. The joints connecting prefabricated elements are the most critical components in such prefabricated structures. In this study, experiments and numerical simulations investigating the influences of different grouted mortise and tenon joint geometrical parameters were conducted to determine the optimal parameters and ensure proper performance. To do so, a finite element model was built with the appropriate characteristics using the experimental results, and an analysis of the influence of different geometrical parameters was conducted. The results indicate that increasing the dip angle of the tenon could improve the flexural rigidity of the joint, but its effect was relatively small compared to that of the other parameters. Increasing the width of the tenon only had a positive effect on the flexural rigidity of the joint when the width was relatively small and under small axial loads. Increasing the length of the tenon helped to enhance the flexural performance of the joint; however, this advantage was not obvious when the tenon length was relatively long. Proper indentation of the joint improved the flexural capacity under a small axial load, but was not beneficial under a high axial load. The findings of this study are of value to help researchers and engineers more effectively design prefabricated underground structures.