Optimized High-Performance Concrete in Grouted Connections

Grouted Connections are known in the offshore industry for a long time. In the last about ten years their technology has been projected for the foundations of Offshore Wind Energy Converters with the difference that High-Performance Concrete is applied. One of the striking advantages of Grouted Connections is the equal load-bearing capacity in tension and compression. It is shown that an increasing compressive strength of the grout, increasing shear key height and fiber reinforcement increase the load-bearing capacity of Grouted Connections. At the same time the danger of shear failure of the shear keys and yielding in the steel members raises.Equationsforanappropriatedesignofthesteelmembersaregiven,dependingonthecompressivestrength of the grout. Thus, High-Performance Concrete for Grouted Connections can be specifically optimized for the demandsofthejoint.Finally,furtherapplicationse.g.forjoiningsteelmembersortower-likestructuresbasingon Grouted Connections are presented, which suggest Grouted Connections as a joining technology for the future.