US 12,305,381 B1
Connection of precast concrete panels and walls using near surface mounted bars
Armin Barzegar Mehrabi, Miami, FL (US); Isabella Zapata Vivas, Miami, FL (US); and Seyed Saman Khedmatgozar Dolati, Miami, FL (US)
Assigned to The Florida International University Board of Trustees, Miami, FL (US)
Filed by Armin Barzegar Mehrabi, Miami, FL (US); Isabella Zapata Vivas, Miami, FL (US); and Seyed Saman Khedmatgozar Dolati, Miami, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/763,482.
Int. Cl. E04B 1/04 (2006.01); E04B 1/38 (2006.01); E04C 5/16 (2006.01)
CPC E04B 1/043 (2013.01) [E04B 1/383 (2013.01); E04C 5/16 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for connecting precast concrete elements, the method comprising:
casting a first precast concrete element, the first precast concrete element having a first connection end configured to connect to a second precast concrete element, and the first precast concrete element further having first grooves formed on a first surface of the first precast concrete element and on a second surface of the first precast concrete element opposite from the first surface;
casting the second precast concrete element, the second precast concrete element having a second connection end configured to connect to the first connection of the first precast concrete element, and the second precast concrete element further having second grooves formed on a third surface of the second precast concrete element and on a fourth surface of the second precast concrete element opposite from the third surface;
applying a first adhesive to at least one of the first connection end of the first precast concrete element and the second connection end of the second precast concrete element;
disposing the first precast concrete element near the second precast concrete element such that the first connection end is adjacent to the second connection end and the first grooves align with the second grooves, the first grooves and the second grooves forming a plurality of third grooves such that each third groove comprises one first groove and one second groove aligned with the respective one first groove;
applying pressure such that the first connection end and the second connection end are pushed towards each other;
disposing a plurality of near-surface mounting bars (NSMBs) in the plurality of third grooves, respectively; and
applying a second adhesive to the third grooves,
each of the first precast concrete element and the second precast concrete element being either: a) a panel element; or b) a wall element,
the first connection end being a male hexagonal butt end,
the second connection end being a female hexagonal butt end,
the first precast concrete element further having a fifth surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a sixth surface opposite from the fifth surface and connecting the first surface and the second surface,
the second precast concrete element further having a seventh surface connecting the third surface and the fourth surface and an eighth surface opposite from the seventh surface and connecting the third surface and the fourth surface,
the first connection end of the first precast concrete being connected to both the fifth surface and the sixth surface of the first precast concrete element
the second connection end of the second precast concrete being coned to both the seventh surface and the eighth surface of the second precast concrete element
the fifth surface and the sixth surface of the first precast concrete element both being free of any grooves, and
the seventh surface and the eighth surface of the second precast concrete element both being free of any grooves.