• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.165-176
• /
• 2012

The aim of this study is to assess the seismic performance of hollow reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete bridge columns, and to provide data for developing improved seismic design criteria. By using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program, the accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), is used to analyze reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures. Tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and models of reinforcing and prestressing steel were used to account for the material nonlinearity of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete. The smeared crack approach was incorporated. The proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of hollow reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete bridge columns is verified by comparing it with the reliable experimental results. Additionally, the studies and discussions presented in this investigation provide an insight into the key behavioral aspects of hollow reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete bridge columns.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2011

This study presents the results of parametric studies of the P-M interaction diagram of hollow prestressed concrete bridge columns. Among the numerous parameters, this study concentrates on concrete compressive strength, prestressing steel reinforcement ratio, effective prestress, the Ds/Do ratio, and the Di/Do ratio. The strength and ductility of hollow prestressed concrete bridge columns were evaluated through quasistatic tests. The P-M interaction diagrams from the codes were different from that of the results, which were in good agreement with AASHTO-LRFD. Nondimensionalized P-M interaction diagrams were developed to predict the design resistance of hollow prestressed concrete bridge columns.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.292-299
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the inelastic behavior of precast segmental prestressed concrete bridge columns. A computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. An unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is newly developed to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. The proposed numerical method for the inelastic behavior of precast segmental prestressed concrete bridge columns is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.723-740
• /
• 2013

This paper presents a parametric study of reinforced concrete bridge tall piers with hollow, rectangular sections. Such piers are typically used in railway construction of prestressed concrete viaducts. Twenty one different piers have been studied with seven column heights of 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 m and three types of 10-span continuous viaducts, whose main span lengths are 40, 50 and 60 m. The piers studied are intermediate columns placed in the middle of the viaducts. The total number of optimization design variables varies from 139 for piers with column height of 40 m to 307 for piers with column height of 100 m. Further, the results presented are of much value for the preliminary design of the piers of prestressed concrete viaducts of high speed railway lines.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.4A
• /
• pp.407-419
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and to provide the details and reference data. Six precast segmental PSC bridge columns were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. This study documents the testing of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.15-27
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of precast segmental PSC bridge columns. For the analysis of reinforced concrete structures, a computer program named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology) is used. To represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of a prestressed concrete member, a bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method is used. A joint element is modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. The solution of the equations of motion is obtained by numerical integration using Hilber-Hughes-Taylor (HHT) algorithm. The proposed numerical method gives a realistic prediction of seismic behavior throughout the input ground motions for numerical examples.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.4A
• /
• pp.591-601
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of precast concrete segmental bridge columns with shear resistance connecting structure. The system can reduce work at a construction site and makes construction periods shorter. A model of precast concrete segmental bridge columns with shear resistance connecting structure was tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. An bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is newly modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. The proposed numerical method gives a realistic prediction of performance throughout the loading cycles for several test specimens investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.1 no.1 s.1
• /
• pp.30-39
• /
• 1998

The functions of diaphragms at abutments and piers of PSC box girder railway bridge are to transfer forces from the superstructure onto bearings or columns and to stiffen the superstructure cross-section against in -plane deformation. Due to stress disturbance at diaphragm, the design for the diaphragm using conventional design method is relatively irrational than those for other structural members. And, due to contribution to boundary condition of deck slab by the diaphragm, the behavior of deck slab near the diaphragm is different from that of the deck slab obtained from two dimensional analysis of the bridge, which is basis for the design of deck slab. In this paper, three dimensional behavior of deck slab near the diaphragm of prestressed concrete (PSC) box girder railway bridge constructed by the precast span method are analyzed by using three dimensional finite element modeling and using the strut-and-tie model design of the diaphragm are presented. The modeling techniques used in this paper can be applied effectively to examine the causes of cracks at deck slab near diaphragm and to design diaphragm rationally.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.10 no.5 s.51
• /
• pp.11-23
• /
• 2006

This paper evaluates the seismic response of multi-span prestressed concrete girder bridges typically found in the New Madrid Seismic Zone region of the central United States. Using detailed nonlinear analytical models and synthetic ground motion records for Memphis, TN, nonlinear response history analyses are performed for two levels of ground motion: 10% probability of exceedance (PE) in 50 years, and 2% probability of exceedance (PE) in 50 years. The results show that the bridge performance is very good fur the 10% PE in 50 years ground motion level. However, the performance for the 2% PE in 50 years ground motion is not so good because it results in highly inelastic behavior of the bridge. Impact between decks results in large ductility demands on the columns, and failure of the bearings that support the girders. It is found that making the superstructure continuous, which is commonly performed for reducing dead load moments and maintenance requirements, results in significant improvement in the seismic response of prestressed concrete girder bridges.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.131-140
• /
• 2002

In this paper, a limit state model based on the analysis of structural behavior of segmental prestressed concrete box girder bridges and reliability-based safety assessment method are proposed for the bridges erected by free cantilever method. Strength limit state models for prestressed concrete box girder and rigid-frame type columns are developed for a structural safety assessment during construction. Based on the proposed limit state models, the reliability of the bridge is evaluated by using the Advanced First Order Second Moment method. The proposed model and method are applied to the Seo-Hae Grand Bridge built by FCM in order to verify its effectiveness in the safety assessment during construction of the kind of bridges. The sensitivity analyses of the main parameters are also performed in order to identify the important factors that need to be controlled for the safety of the bridges during construction.