Shaking Table Performance of a New Bridge System with Pretensioned Rocking Columns
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 4
Abstract
A new bridge bent system has been developed to reduce on-site construction time, minimize residual displacements even after a large earthquake, and reduce seismic damage in comparison with conventional cast-in-place construction. Accelerated construction is achieved through the use of precast columns and cap beams that can be assembled quickly. Postearthquake residual displacements are reduced by pretensioning the columns with partially unbonded tendons. Damage in the columns is nearly eliminated by concentrating flexural deformations to specially detailed regions at the top and bottom of the columns. In this study, the seismic performance of the new system was evaluated with a multi-shaking table test of a quarter scale, two-span bridge at the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Earthquake Engineering Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno. The maximum displacements of the bents were similar to those expected for a conventional bridge through the 100% design-level event [peak ground acceleration (PGA) = 0.75 g]. Residual drift ratios never exceeded 0.2% up to the 221% design-level motion (PGA = 1.66 g). Damage to the column concrete was negligible; the columns would not need any repair after being subjected to the 100% design-level motion. The only structural damage to the bridge was the eventual fracture of the column’s longitudinal reinforcement and bulging of the column’s confining tube, both of which occurred at drift ratios of approximately 6%. These damage states could be delayed by increasing the debonded length of the deformed bar reinforcement at the ends of the columns and by using a thicker steel tube for the confining detail.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation George Brown NEES Research Program (CMMI-1207903) and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center. The bridge specimen was tested at the NEES Equipment Site at the University of Nevada, Reno (NEES Ops NSF08-574). The findings and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors alone.
The precast columns and cap beams were fabricated at the University of Washington with the assistance of laboratory manager Vince Chaijareon and students Jimmy Au, Lisa Berg, Peter Deng, Olafur Harladsson, Monika Keller, Bryan Kennedy, Stephanie Kuroda, Spencer Livermore, Max Stephens, Scott Tetzlaff, Hung Viet Tran, Kevin Tsuchida, Connor Tsuchida, Lucas Whitesell, and Chase Young.
The specimen was constructed at the University of Nevada, Reno, with the assistance of laboratory manager Patrick Laplace, laboratory technicians Chad Lyttle and Todd Lyttle, and students Osvaldo Arias, Lisa Bryant, Mimi Mungedi, Guillermo Munoz, Taylor Nielsen, and Eric Ramirez. The support of all of the research participants is gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 4 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 7, 2015
Accepted: Sep 24, 2015
Published online: Jan 4, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jun 4, 2016
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