Enhanced Strategies for Seismic Resilient Posttensioned Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers: Experimental Tests and Numerical Simulations
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 3
Abstract
Recent studies have proposed and investigated the use of unbonded posttensioned (PT) bars in bridge substructure systems to improve their self-centering behavior. However, the lateral loading resistance and self-centering capacities of reinforced concrete (RC) piers with PT bars (i.e., the posttensioned RC bridge piers: PRC piers) could be easily compromised by early crushing of the base compression toe during a seismic event. Hence, in order to enhance the pier base integrity, the present study proposes and experimentally investigates three simple strategies for enhancing the seismic-damage resistance of PRC piers based on the use of (1) a steel tube to encase the PRC pier’s end segment; (2) ultrahigh performance concrete at the PRC pier’s end segment; and (3) engineered cementitious composite mortar bed underneath the pier bottom. The performance of these three PRC piers was assessed by comparing them with a conventional PRC pier under cyclic loading and considering the damage evolution and the cyclic force-displacement response. The comparison shows that the proposed enhanced PRC solutions allow improving the seismic performance of the system sustaining large lateral drifts with good self-centering behavior. Moreover, based on the test results, finite element models accounting for PT force loss and the rocking characteristics were validated to reproduce the piers’ cyclic response, thus highlighting the importance of considering PT force loss during numerical simulations.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51838010) is greatly appreciated by the authors. The first author also gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 202006260245) for financial support for the research visit at UCL.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 3 • March 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 11, 2022
Accepted: Nov 4, 2022
Published online: Dec 27, 2022
Published in print: Mar 1, 2023
Discussion open until: May 27, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Bridge engineering
- Bridge tests
- Bridges
- Bridges (by material)
- Concrete
- Concrete bridges
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Field tests
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Materials engineering
- Materials processing
- Models (by type)
- Numerical analysis
- Numerical models
- Piers
- Ports and harbors
- Post tensioning
- Reinforced concrete
- Seismic tests
- Structural engineering
- Tests (by type)
- Water and water resources
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