Performance evaluation method of precast parking structure vertical members under vehicle impact

Abstract The columns and shear walls of precast parking structures are vulnerable to collisions during vehicle parking. Currently, the design codes for these innovative structures lack comprehensive guidelines for predicting the response of their vertical members when subjected to impact. This paper presents a series of numerical studies aimed at comprehensively understanding the behavior and failure modes of impacted vertical members in parking structures. The behavior of the vertical members was evaluated under typical loading conditions by analyzing the effects of impact velocity, axial loading, and vehicle type. The performance level of the vertical members was observed to decrease with an increase in vehicle collision kinetic energy and a higher axial compression ratio. The ratio of impact point deflection to the height of the vertical member, corresponding to the residual bearing capacity post‐collision, was selected as the performance evaluation index. A prediction formula for this ratio under vehicle impact was also provided. Additionally, a method for evaluating the anti‐collision performance of vertical members in parking structures based on impact point deflection was established.