• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.271-280
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• 2018

This paper presents a framework for developing aftershock fragility curves for reinforced concrete bridges initially damaged by mainshocks. The presented aftershock fragility is a damage-dependent fragility function, which is conditioned on an initial damage state resulting from mainshocks. The presented framework can capture the cumulative damage of as-built bridges due to mainshock-aftershock sequences as well as the reduced vulnerability of bridges repaired with CFRP pier jackets. To achieve this goal, the numerical model of column jackets is firstly presented and then validated using existing experimental data available in literature. A four-span concrete box-girder bridge is selected as a case study to examine the application of the presented framework. The aftershock fragility curves are derived using response data from back-to-back nonlinear dynamic analyses under mainshock-aftershock sequences. The aftershock fragility curves for as-built bridge columns are firstly compared with different levels of initial damage state, and then the post-repair effect of FRP pier jacket is examined through the comparison of aftershock fragility curves for as-built and repaired piers.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.284-291
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• 2005

A RC column-bent pier represents one of the most popular piers used in highway bridges. Seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) column-bent piers under bidirectional seismic loadings was experimentally investigated. Six column bent-piers were constructed with two circular supporting columns which were made in 400mm diameter and 2,000mm height. Test parameters are different transverse reinforcement and loading pattern. These piers were tested under lateral load reversals with the axial load of $0.1f_{ck}A_g$. Three specimens were subjected to bidirectional lateral load cycles which consisted of two main longitudinal loads and two sub transverse loads in one load cycle. Other three specimens were loaded in the opposite way. Test results indicated that lateral strength and ductility of the latter three specimens were generally bigger than those of the former three specimens. Plastic hinges were formed with the spall of cover concrete and the fracture of the longitudinal reinforcing steels in the bottom plastic hinge of two supporting columns for the former three specimens. Similar behavior was observed in the top and bottom parts of two supporting columns for the latter three specimens.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2016

This study investigates the seismic performance of new hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers with triangular reinforcement details. The developed triangular reinforcement details are economically feasible and rational, and facilitate shorter construction periods. We tested a model of new hollow RC bridge piers with triangular reinforcement details under a constant axial load and a quasi-static, cyclically reversed horizontal load. We used a computer program, Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology (RCAHEST), for analysis of RC structures. The used numerical method gives a realistic prediction of seismic performance throughout the loading cycles for several hollow pier specimens investigated. As a result, developed triangular reinforcement details for material quantity reduction was equal to existing reinforcement details in terms of required performance.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.3 s.55
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• pp.23-31
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• 2007

Fast bridge construction has been increasingly needed according to the changed construction environment. This paper deals with quasi-static tests on precast piers for bridge substructures. One of the most crucial aspect of the design of precast prestressed concrete bridge piers is the seismic performance. Seven precast pier elements were fabricated. The amount of prestressing bars, the prestressing force, and the location and number of the joint between segments were the main test parameters. Test results showed that the introduced axial prestress made the restoration of the deformation under small lateral displacement and minor damage. However, there was no effect of the prestress when the plastic hinge region was damaged severely due to large lateral displacement. Judging from the observed damage, the design of the joints in precast piers should be done for the first joint between the foundation and the pier segment. The amount of the necessary prestressing steel may be designed to satisfy the P-M diagram according to the service loads, not by having the same steel ratio as normal RC bridge piers. In order to satisfy the current required displacement ductility, it is necessary to have the same amount of the transverse reinforcements as RC piers. As the steel ratio increases, the energy absorption capacity increases. The number of joints showed a little influence on the energy absorption capacity.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.1 s.85
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• pp.121-128
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• 2005

A RC column-bent pier represents one of the most popular piers used in highway bridges. Seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) column-bent piers under bidirectional seismic loadings was experimentally investigated. Six column bent-piers were constructed with two circular supporting columns which were made in 400 mm diameter and 2,000 mm height. One single column specimen was additionally made to comparatively evaluate the seismic response of RC column-bent piers. Test parameters are different transverse reinforcement and loading pattern. These piers were tested under lateral load reversals with the axial load of $0.1 f_{ck}A_g$. Three specimens were subjected to bidirectional lateral load cycles which consisted of two main longitudinal loads and two sub transverse loads in one load cycle. Other three specimens were loaded in the opposite way. Test results indicated that lateral strength and ductility of the latter three specimens were generally bigger than those of the former three specimens. Plastic hinges were formed with the spall of cover concrete and the fracture of the longitudinal reinforcing steels in the bottom plastic hinge of two supporting columns for the former three specimens. Similar behavior was observed in the top and bottom parts of two supporting columns for the latter three specimens.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.667-673
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• 2010

The near fault ground motion (NFGM) is characterized by a single long period velocity pulse with large magnitude. NFGMs have been observed in recent strong earthquakes, Northridge (1994), Japan Kobe (1995), Turkey Izmit (1999), China Sichuan (2008), Haiti (2010) etc. These strong earthquakes have caused considerable damage to infrastructures because the epicenter was close to the urban area, called as NFGM. Extensive research for the far field ground motion (FFGM) have been carried out in strong seismic region, but limited research have been done for NFGM in low or moderate seismic regions because of very few records. The purpose of this research is to investigate and analyze the seismic response of reinforced concrete bridge piers subjected to near-fault ground motions. The seismic performance of six RC bridge piers depending on three confinement steel ratios and three superstructure mass was investigated on the shaking table. From these experimental results, it was confirmed that the reduction of seismic performance was observed for test specimens with lower confinement steel ratio or more deck weight. The displacement ductility of RC bridge piers in terms of the stiffness degradation is proposed based on test results the shaking table.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.5 s.51
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• pp.73-83
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete pier walls under cyclic out-of-plane loading and to develop improved seismic design criteria. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced by using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. A computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A 4-node flat shell element with drilling rotational stiffness is used for spatial discretization. The layered approach is used to discretize the behavior of concrete and reinforcement through the thickness. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. The method is verified a useful tool to assess the seismic performance of reinforced concrete pier walls subjected to cyclic out-of-plane load through comparing with reliable experimental results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2002

Steel piers and concrete-filled steel(CFS) piers, in spite of reasonable strength, high ductility, small section, and fast construction, have not been considered as one of alternatives to RC piers even in the highly populated urban area where aseismic safety, limited space and fast construction are indispensably required. This paper, the first of two companion papers for the seismic performance of steel and CFS piers, tests steel and CFS piers under quasi-static cyclic loading to estimate their ductility and strength. Additional details such as rebars and base ribs are added to increase the ductility of a concrete-filled steel pier with minimum additional cost. Also, simplified numerical analyses using nonlinear spring and shell elements are examined for the estimation of the ductility and strength of concrete-filled steel piers and a steel pier. The result shows that concrete-filled steel peirs have higher energy absorption, i.e., ductility and strength than those of steel pier and increasing bonding between in-filled concrete and lower diaphragm, and the improved details of stress concentrated region would be important for the ductility and strength of a pier. Numerical results show that simplified modeling with nonlinear springs and shells has potential to be effective modeling technique to estimate the seismic performance of a concrete-filled steel pier.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.949-954
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• 2003

In this paper, simplified modeling approach describing the hysteretic behavior of reinforced concrete columns is discussed. The inelastic response of a reinforced concrete column or pier subjected to cyclic deformation reversals or earthquake ground motion is evaluated by use of lumped hysteretic representation. For this purpose, the hystertic model under axial force variation is developed and implemented into a nonlinear finite element analysis program. The analytical predictions obtained with the new formulation are compared with test results and reveal accuracy and applicability in terms of strength and stiffness. In addition, comparison between results with and without axial force variation stresses the importance of the proposed approach.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.873-878
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• 2002

This study is performed to investigate the behavior of multi-column piers and to evaluate the seismic performance. In this study, 3 types of scale model piers with 2-column are designed and tested by quasi-static load in both longitudinal and transverse directions. Each type of model consisting of 2 specimens has different reinforcement details in the lap splice of longitudinal bars and amount of transverse reinforcements. This paper reports that relatively large amount of ductility can be achieved by providing sufficient lap-splice length and transverse reinforcements with end hook even if longitudinal bars are lap spliced in the base of pier. But because multi-column piers have small longitudinal stiffness, careful consideration is needed in case of multi-span continuous bridges.