Grouted and dowelled jointed precast concrete columns: behaviour in combined bending and compression

Tests are described on the behaviour of grouted and dowelled jointed precast columns under combined bending and axial load. Only part of the longitudinal steel is used for dowel action so that the axial load capacity needs to be enhanced in the region of the joint. This is done by the use of additional links in each of the units comprising the jointed column. The jointed column had load capacities similar to those expected for monolithic columns but the failure zone was localized. As a consequence, when overall behaviour is determined by failure at the joint, it can be expected that a jointed column will be more brittle than a monolithic column.