Reusability evaluation of interlocking column-base connection: An experimental and numerical study

The construction industry is actively progressing toward the development of reconfigurable buildings, which can be deemed reconfigurable when the connections are designed to be demountable. Demountable connections that facilitate direct reusability of structural members are therefore gaining importance as the need to transform the construction industry into a circular economy intensifies. This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations into a newly developed directly reusable steel column base connection based on an interlocking plate approach. The connections are tested in a manner that simulates a practical reuse scenario. The column base connections are loaded laterally using a proposed reuse-based protocol employing monotonic loading. The loading protocol is developed to assess the connection for any loss in elastic stiffness or strength after each loading sequence. The influence of the main material properties, namely the steel grade of the interlocking connectors and the concrete grade of the footing, is experimentally investigated, and the results are discussed. Numerical finite element models are also developed and validated against experimental results and subsequently employed in an extended parametric study to evaluate the effects of baseplate thickness and stiffener orientations on the behaviour. Finite Element models were also used to compare the performance of the proposed connection against the traditional bolted connection. The material properties had minimal effect on the initial elastic stiffness; however, they remained instrumental in determining the failure mode of the connection. Similarly, suggestions for optimum baseplate thickness and stiffener orientation are provided for adequate structural performance and easier demountability.