HPKM Column Shoes Overview
HPKM Column Shoes come in several standard models, designed to facilitate various precast concrete column connections. The system includes column shoes, anchor bolts, and accessories like recess formers and installation templates.
Functionality
Used with HPM® Rebar Anchor Bolts, these column shoes create moment-resisting precast concrete column connections. The system can match the stiffness of a continuously reinforced cast-in-place connection. The column shoes are cast into the column’s bottom part along with reinforcement.
Connection Process
HPM Rebar Anchor Bolts are cast into foundations or the top of the lower column, forming column-to-foundation or column-to-column connections. The round holes in the column shoes fit the anchor bolts, and nuts and washers secure the connection, allowing for vertical adjustments.
Finalization
The connection is completed by filling the joint underneath the column and the recesses with non-shrink grout material, ensuring stability.
Functionality:
HPKM® Column Shoes are construction products used to create cost-effective, moment-resisting, stiff connections between precast concrete columns and foundations, or between precast concrete columns. The bolted column shoes’ connection is at least as rigid as a continuously reinforced cast in place column connection. HPKM® Column Shoes are used together with HPM® Rebar Anchor Bolts.
The Column Connection is made by the Column Shoes and the Anchor Bolts. The Column Shoes are casted into precast concrete columns, while Anchor Bolts are casted into the foundation or another column (columns’ splice). On the construction site the columns are erected on the Anchor Bolts, adjusted to the correct level and vertical position. Fixing is achieved by tightening nuts on the Anchor Bolts. The joint between column and structure below should be grouted before loading the column. After grout is hardened, the joint works as reinforced concrete structure.
Applications:
HPM Rebar Anchor Bolt: HPM Rebar Anchor Bolts are used with HPKM Column Shoes and SUMO Wall Shoes to create fast and safe connections between precast elements. Anchor Bolts transfer the compression and tension forces through a combination of headed studs and the bond of the ribs of ribbed bars.
Column Shoe Casting Box: Casting Boxes are used together with Column Shoes at the manufacturing stage. Casting Boxes create recesses of the correct size for using anchor bolts.
Advantages:
HPKM® Column Shoes provide a high-performance solution for connecting precast concrete columns either to foundations or to other precast columns in multi-story structures. These engineered connections deliver immediate stability by creating rigid, moment-resistant joints when paired with HPM® Anchor Bolts or COPRA® Anchoring Couplers, ensuring structural integrity from the moment of installation.
The system’s design features column shoes that are precision-cast into the precast concrete columns during manufacturing, while the anchor bolts are embedded either in the foundation （for base connections） or in the lower column (for column-to-column splices). During on-site assembly, columns are securely positioned onto the anchor bolts, with their alignment fine-tuned to exact level and plumb specifications simply by tightening the connection nuts.
To complete the installation, the interface between the column and supporting structure is filled with high-strength, non-shrink grout. Once cured, this grouted joint achieves full composite action, performing identically to a conventional cast-in-place reinforced concrete connection in terms of load transfer and structural behavior.
