Compression-Shear Behavior and Water Impermeability of Rubber Seal in Precast Concrete Structures

Abstract

This paper attempts to apply the precast construction system on concrete swimming pools. Elastomeric bearings are chosen to be used as rubber seals in order to provide both shear resistance between segments and leakage prevention to the structures. The study methods involve 2 main experiments, accordingly. To simulate the conditions of immersed structures, the prototype of precast swimming pool and the joint between segments are designed. The compression-shear tests of such joints are conducted subject to direct shear and confinement to investigate the shear resistance of the rubber seals. The test results show that the final shear stress under confinements of 1 and 2 MPa and rubber hardness levels of 60 and 70 are considerably higher than the required shear stress while the rubbers prevent the slippery. The water impermeability test is conducted on the specimen made with full depth and thickness of the prototype. Three-dimensional finite element models are also created using ANSYS to determine the stresses caused by the post-tensioned BBR bars. Results from numerical models exhibit non-uniformly distributed stresses in the rubber seal. Two other important factors are found to have influence on impermeability performance: the creep effect of rubber and the surface finishing of contacted precasts.