Transforming to construction circularity - reusability assessment of interlocking column-base connection

As the necessity of transforming the construction industry towards circularity and sustainability increases, the need for the development of demountable structural connections, which enable the reuse of the structural members or the whole structure, also increases. This study explores the influence of various parameters towards increasing the reuse potential of the interlocking hold-down type (IH-type) column-base connection. The key parameters investigated in this paper include the effect of vertical compression ratio, the loading orientation of the column-base connection to the column axes and the applicability of the connection for various column cross-sections. The connection exhibited - (i) similar load-transfer mechanism to the traditionally exposed column-base connection under vertical compression, making it structurally sound while aiding easier demountability and better reusability; (ii) a good degree of strength and stiffness and comparable failure modes when loaded along either axis of the connector, making the connection stronger with comparable lateral stiffnesses for either axis of column, adaptable and reconfigurable; (iii) the strength, stiffness and failure mode of the connection remained unaffected by the different column cross sections used strengthening the claim of versatility and reconfigurability of the developed reusable IH-type connection. The component model developed is used to cross-validate the numerical models developed and check the component model's robustness.