Performance of Advanced Materials during Earthquake Loading Tests of a Bridge System
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 1
Abstract
Three unconventional details for the plastic hinge regions of bridge columns subjected to seismic loads were developed, designed, and implemented in a large-scale, four-span RC bridge. Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs), engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), posttensioned columns, and elastomeric bearings were used in three different piers to improve the seismic performance of the bridge in terms of minimizing damage and reducing residual displacements. The bridge model was subjected to a series of biaxial earthquake excitations with increasing amplitudes. The experimental results showed that, besides being effective in reducing permanent displacement of the bridge, the high-performance materials and details substantially reduced the damage at plastic hinge regions and modified significantly other response parameters of the bents compared with conventional RC construction. Higher ductility was observed in the pier with the SMA/ECC combination, and larger load capacity was exhibited by the pier with elastomeric pads. While rotations at the plastic hinges with high-performance materials were significantly larger than those measured at plastic hinges made of conventional RC, the measured residual strains in the longitudinal reinforcement in the plastic hinges with innovative details were smaller than those observed in RC plastic hinges.
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Acknowledgments
The study presented in this article was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under the NEESR Grant Nos. CMS-0420347, CMMI-0650935, and CMS-0402490. The support of the NSF program director Dr. Joy Pauschke is appreciated. The contributions of David Hillis in the design and construction of the bridge bents are deeply appreciated. The authors would like to thank Dr. Kazuhiko Kawashima for providing information about columns with elastomeric pads and the AVAR-SAS Company for donating the posttensioning rods. Special thanks go to the staff of the Structures Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), particularly to Dr. Patrick Laplace, Dr. Sherif Elfass, and Mr. Paul Lucas. The dedicated assistance of the following UNR undergraduate and graduate students is also gratefully acknowledged: Amir Reza Shoja-Taheri, Sarira Motaref, Ashkan Vosooghi, and Austin Brown.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 1 • January 2013
Pages: 144 - 154
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 30, 2011
Accepted: Mar 29, 2012
Published online: Apr 3, 2012
Published in print: Jan 1, 2013
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