• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2018

The seismic vulnerability analysis of multi-span bridges can be based on the response of the piers, provided that deck, bearings and foundations remain elastic. The lateral response of an RC bridge pier can be affected by different mechanisms (i.e., flexure, shear, lap-splice or buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement bars, second order effects). In the literature, simplified formulations are available for mechanisms different from the flexure. On the other hand, the flexural response is usually calculated with a numerically-based Moment-Curvature diagram of the base section and equivalent plastic hinge length. The goal of this paper is to propose a simplified analytical solution to obtain the Moment-Curvature relationship for hollow circular RC sections. This based on calibrated polynomials, fitted against a database comprising 720 numerical Moment-Curvature analyses. The section capacity curve is defined through the position of 6 characteristic points and they are based on four input parameters: void ratio of the hollow section, axial force ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transversal reinforcement ratio. A case study RC bridge pier is assessed with the proposed solution and the results are compared to a refined numerical FEM analysis, showing good match.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.5 s.89
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• pp.775-784
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• 2005

In this research, major design factors have been evaluated for the establishment of the rational seismic design code of circular RC(reinforced concrete) bridge pier Previous experimental researches have drawn a conclusion that transverse confinement reinforcements have been excessively used for RC bridge piers in Korea. Thus, the objective of this study is to propose a rational design equation for transverse reinforcements of RC bridge piers in Korea which would be classified as a low or moderate seismic region. Newly proposed equation further considers the effect of the axial force ratio and the longitudinal steel ratio. Minimum transverse confinement steel ratio is also proposed to avoid probable buckling of the longitudinal reinforcing steels subjected to relatively low axial force. It is thought that these new codes seem to alleviate the rebar congestion in the plastic hinge region of RC bridge piers which contribute to the enhancement of constructibility and economization for RC bridge construction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.47-52
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• 2001

Short reinforced concrete bridge piers are particularly susceptible to shear failure as a consequence of the high shear/moment ratio and conservatism in the flexural strength design of existing RC bridge pier, which were constructed before 1992. In addition, shear failure is brittle and involves rapid strength degradation. Inelastic shear deformation is thus unsuitable fur ductile seismic response. It is, however, believed that there are not many experimental research works fur shear failure of the existing RC bridge pier in Korean peninsula subjected to earthquake motions. The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular RC bridge piers by the quasi-static test. Existing RC bridge piers were moderate seismically designed in accordance with the conventional provisions of Korea Highway Design Specification. This study has been performed to verify the effect of aspect ratio (column height-diameter ratio). Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as lateral force-displacement hysteric curve, envelope curve etc.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.941-946
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• 2002

Short reinforced concrete bridge piers are particularly susceptible to shear failure as a consequence of the high shear/moment ratio and conservatism in the flexural strength design of existing RC bridge pier, which were constructed before 1992. In addition, shear failure is brittle and involves rapid strength degradation. Inelastic shear deformation is thus unsuitable for ductile seismic response. It is, however, believed that there are not many experimental research works for shear failure of the existing RC bridge pier in Korean peninsula subjected to earthquake motions. The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular RC bridge piers by the quasi-static test. Existing RC bridge piers were moderate seismically designed in accordance with the conventional provisions of Korea Highway Design Specification. This study has been performed to verify the effect of aspect ratio (column height-diameter ratio). Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as lateral force-displacement hysteric curve, envelope curve etc.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.4 s.88
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• pp.603-611
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• 2005

For the establishment of rational seismic design code for RC (reinforced concrete) bridge pier, this paper has analyzed the seismic code of RC bridge pier specified in )veil-known codes such as KHBDS (Korea Highway Bridge Design Specification), AASHTO Standard, ATC-32, Eurocode 8, NZS 3101, etc. So as to secure aseismic ductility of RC pier, transverse confinement steel ratios of those codes have been examined together with other design parameters such as strength of concrete and reinforcing steel, axial force ratio, aspect ratio, longitudinal steel ratio, etc. However, there has been arisen a doubt for the validity of those parameters. Thus, the objective of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the validity of design parameter of each code on the experimental seismic ductility for about 80 test specimens. It was concluded from this study that the axial force ratio is a dominant factor for the seismic displacement ductility. Therefore, it Is desirable that the axial force ratio be further taken into account in the corresponding seismic design formula of RC bridge pier in current KHBDS.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.276-283
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• 2006

Korea is considered to be immune from the earthquake hazard because it is located far away from the active fault. However, recent earthquake caused a loss of lives and economical loss worldwide. Hence there has been raised an importance of the earthquake resistant design for various infrastructures. In this research, the seismic design and evaluation criterion for RC bridge pier were proposed from the experimental results of 82 circular RC bridge piers tested in domestic and aboard. New seismic criterion was introduced the limited ductile design provision suitable to Korean peninsula, which would be classified as a low or moderate seismic region. In addition, further important topic for the seismic safety of RC bridge piers in Korea is the seismic performance enhancement of RC bridge piers, which were designed and constructed before the 1992 seismic design provision. Therefore, the proposed seismic performance evaluation criterion could be very useful to judge seismic retrofit need or not according to the residual seismic performance of the RC bridge piers. Also, it could reduce an uncertainty for the safety of the infrastructure under earthquakes.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.377-384
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• 2003

Recently, there are much concerns about new and innovative transverse materials which could be used instead of conventional transverse steel in reinforced concrete bridge piers. FRP materials could be substituted for conventional transverse steel because of their sufficient strength, light weight, easy fabrication, and useful applicability to any shapes of pier sections, such as rectangular or circular sections. The objective of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge pier specimens with FRP transverse reinforcement by means of the Quasi-Static test. In the first task, test columns were made using FRP rope, but these specimens appeared to fail at low displacement ductility levels due to insufficient confinement of strand extension itself. Therefore, the second task was to evaluate the seismic performance of test specimens transversely confined with FRP band. Although FRP banded specimens showed lower seismic performance than the specimen with spiral reinforcing steel, it satisfied with the response modification factor, 3, required for the single column of Korea bridge roadway design code. It was concluded that FRP band could be efficiently substituted for conventional reinforcing steel.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.263-270
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• 2003

Before the implementation of the 1992 seismic design provisions in Korea, longitudinal steels of RC bridge piers were practically lap-spliced in the plastic hinge region. Experimental investigation was made to evaluate the seismic performance of RC bridge pier specimens in a flexure/shear mode. Six circular test specimens in an aspect ratio of 2.5 (600mm in diameter) were made with test parameters confinement ratio, lap splices, and retrofit FRP materials. They were damaged under a series of artificial earthquakes with 0.22g PGA, being compatible in Korean peninsula, through the pseudo-dynamic test. Probable damages were assessed by the Park and Ang damage index. Approximate 0.1 and 0.3 damage indices were obtained for RC specimens without lap splice and with lap splice, respectively. Directly after the pseudo-dynamic test, damaged test columns were laterally actuated under inelastic reversal cyclic loadings simultaneously under a constant axial load. Through curvature measurements, residual seismic performance was evaluated for test specimens. Test results show that RC pier specimens with lap-spliced appeared to fail at low ductility, but significant improvement was obtained for the ductility of these specimens if externally wrapped with FRP.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2002

The objective of this experimental research is to assess the seismic performance of circular RC bridge pier specimens retrofitted with fibers which were designed as a prototype of Hagal bridge in the city of Suwon, Korea. Pseudo dynamic test has been done for four(4) test specimens which were nonseismically or seismically designed by the related provisions of the Korea roadway bridge design specification, and four nonseisemic test specimens retrofitted with fibers in the plastic hinge region. Glass and carbon fiber sheets were used for the seismic capacity enhancement of circular test specimens. Important test parameters were confinement steel ratio, load pattern, and retrofitting. The seismic behavior has been analyzed through the displacement ductility, energy analysis, and capacity spectrum. Approximate 7.7 ∼8.7 displacement ductility was observed for nonseismic test specimens retrofitted with fibers subjected to Korea Highway Cooperation artificial earthquake motions. It is concluded that these retrofitted test specimens could have sufficient seismic capacity in the region of moderate seismic zone.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.41-62
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• 2013

A comprehensive experimental program of cyclic tests on 1:3-scale models of bridge piers is going to be carried out at the Laboratory of Structures and Materials of the University of Basilicata. The testing models include eight RC single shaft piers with hollow circular cross section. Four piers have been realised using corroded steel rebars. In this paper, the results of preliminary numerical simulation analyses of the cyclic behaviour of the piers, carried out with Opensees using fiber-based models, are presented. Pull-out and lap-splice effects of steel rebars have been taken into account in the numerical analyses. First, the experimental specimens and the test set up are presented. Next, the results of the numerical analyses are discussed. In the numerical analyses, different configurations and levels of corrosion have been considered. The effective stiffness and equivalent damping of the piers is reported as a function of pier ductility and pier drift.