MPC
Webinar Recording

Title:	Design of Mechanically Spliced Precast Bridge Columns
Date Recorded:	May 24, 2022
Links:	View the Recorded Webinar (YouTube) View Presentation Materials (PDF, 6897K)
Project #:	MPC-595
Report #:	MPC-22-451

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Description

This webinar is focused on research on the mechanical bar splice, also known as bar coupler, is an alternative to the traditional lap splicing to connect bars in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Even though mechanical bar splices can be used as new precast column connections to accelerate bridge construction (ABC), the use of bar couplers in the plastic hinge region of bridge columns is prohibited in current U.S. codes. Recent studies at South Dakota State University (SDSU) attacked both problems by testing more than 160 bar couplers and eight half-scale bridge columns.