• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.97-110
• /
• 2003

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the behavior of eccentric lightweight aggregate concrete-encased composite columns. This study aims at verifying the validity of such type of concrete in composite construction and checking the adequacy of the AISC-LRFD and the British Bridge Code BS 5400 specifications in predicting the column strength. Sixteen full-scale pin ended columns subjected to uniaxial bending about the major axis in symmetrical single curvature were tested.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.949-954
• /
• 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 Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2001.09a
• /
• pp.194-199
• /
• 2001

Lap splice in plastic hinge region is inevitable because of due to constructional joint between footing and column. R/C Circular columns with lap-splice in plastic hinge region are widely used in Korean highway bridges. In addition, these columns which constructed before the seismic design code have a number of structural deficiencies. It is, however, believed that there are not many experimental research works for nonlinear behavior of these columns subjected to earthquake motions. The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular reinforced concrete bridge piers by the Quasi-static test. Existing reinforced concrete 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 lap spliced longitudinal steel, confinement steel type and confinement steel ratio far the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete bridge piers. Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as displacement ductility, energy absorption, strength degradation etc.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.43-65
• /
• 2012

The primary objective of this study was to identify concrete contribution to the initial shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) hollow columns under lateral loading. Seven large-scale RC rectangular hollow column specimens were tested under monotonic or cyclic lateral loads. The most important design parameter was column length-to-depth aspect ratio ranging between 1.5 and 3.0, and the other test variables included web area ratio, hollow section ratio, and loading history. The tests showed that the initial shear strength reduced in a linear pattern as the column aspect ratio increased, and one specimen tested under cyclic loading achieved approximately 83% of the shear strength of the companion specimen under monotonic loading. Also, several pioneering shear models proposed around the world, all of which were mainly based on tests for columns with solid sections, were reviewed and compared with the test results of this study, for their possible applications to columns with hollow sections. After all, an empirical equation was proposed for concrete contribution to the initial shear strength of RC hollow columns based on fundamental mechanics and the test results.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.80
• /
• pp.249-260
• /
• 2004

The longitudinal steel connection of reinforced concrete bridge column is sometimes practically unavoidable, however the current Korean bridge design specifications have no special provisions about lap-splices of longitudinal steel. This paper reports experimental results of a research program investigating the seismic performance of circular RC bridge columns with respect to longitudinal steel connection detailing. Twenty-one circular column specimens were tested under quasi-static test. The columns with the entire longitudinal steel lap-spliced within plastic hinge region show relatively sudden strength degradation and low ductility than the columns with continuous longitudinal steel and the columns with half of longitudinal steel lap-spliced. However, the seismic performance of the column with mechanically connected longitudinal steel is similar to that of the column with continuous longitudinal steel. The final objectives of this study are to suggest appropriate longitudinal reinforcement connection details for the limited ductility design concept and to provide quantitative reference data and tendency for performance or damage assessment based on the performance levels such as cracking, yielding, collapse, etc. Ultimate displacement/drift ratio, displacement ductility, response modification factor, equivalent viscous damping ratio, residual deformation index, and effective stiffness are investigated and discussed in this paper.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.125-146
• /
• 2006

Stonecutters Bridge of Hong Kong is a cable-stayed bridge with two single-column pylons each 298 m high and an aerodynamic twin deck. The total length of the bridge is 1596 m with a main span of 1018 m. The top 118 m of the tower will comprise structural steel and concrete composite while the bottom part will be of reinforced concrete. The bridge deck at the central span will be of steel whilst the side spans will be of concrete. Stonecutters Bridge has adopted a twin-girder deck design with a wide clear separation of 14.3 m between the two longitudinal girders. Although a number of studies have been conducted to investigate the aerodynamic performance of twin-girder deck, the actual real life application of this type of deck is extremely limited. This therefore triggered the need for conducting the present studies, the main objective of which is to investigate the performance of Stonecutters Bridge against flutter at its in-service stage as well as during construction. Based on the flutter derivatives obtained from the 1:80 scale rigid section model experiment, flutter analysis was carried out using 3-D finite element based single parameter searching method developed by the second author of this paper. A total of 6 finite element models of the bridge covering the in-service stage as well as 5 construction stages were established. The dynamic characteristics of the bridge associated with these stages were computed and applied in the analyses. Apart from the critical wind speeds for the onset of flutter, the dominant modes of vibration participating in the flutter vibration were also identified. The results indicate that the bridge will be stable against flutter at its in-service stage as well as during construction at wind speeds much higher than the verification wind speed of 95 m/s (1-minute mean).

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.271-279
• /
• 2003

The objective of this study is to evaluate the damage of the reinforced concrete bridge piers. For the purpose of this research, twelve reinforced concrete specimens were fabricated and experimented with quasi-static test method. The selected test parameters are lap splice, axial load ratio, confinement steel ratio and number of loading cycle. The method of evaluate of damage index is the model proposed by Park and Ang. In accordance with this research, the most effective test parameter is lap splice of longitudinal steel. Therefore, the retrofit scheme of reinforced concrete bridge piers with lap splice of longitudinal steel, which was constructed before 1992, must be settled without delay. Otherwise, the effect of axial force is trivial. The more confinement steel is less damage index and more loading cycle lead to raise damage. The damage statement proposed Park and Ang is the same with experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.745-757
• /
• 2018

The inclusion of a ductile steel bracing as means of repairing an earthquake-damaged bridge bent is evaluated and experimentally assessed for the purposes of restoring the damaged bent's strength and stiffness and further improving the energy dissipation capacity. The study is focused on substandard reinforced concrete multi-column bridge bents constructed in the 1950 to mid-1970 in the United States. These types of bents have numerous deficiencies making them susceptible to seismic damage. Large-scale experiments were used on a two-column reinforced concrete bent to impose considerable damage of the bent through increasing amplitude cyclic deformations. The damaged bent was then repaired by installing a ductile fuse steel brace in the form of a buckling-restrained brace in a diagonal configuration between the columns and using post-tensioned rods to strengthen the cap beam. The brace was secured to the bent using steel gusset plate brackets and post-installed adhesive anchors. The repaired bent was then subjected to increasing amplitude cyclic deformations to reassess the bent performance. A subassemblage test of a nominally identical steel brace was also conducted in an effort to quantify and isolate the ductile fuse behavior. The experimental data from these large-scale experiments were analyzed in terms of the hysteretic response, observed damage, internal member loads, as well as the overall stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics. The results of this study demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing ductile steel bracing for restoring the bent and preventing further damage to the columns and cap beams while also improving the stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 2023

In order to obtain the impact of socket connection interface forms and socket gap sizes on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) socket prefabricated bridge piers, quasi-static tests for three socket prefabricated piers with different column-foundation connection interface forms and reserved socket gap sizes, as well as to the corresponding cast-in-situ reinforced concrete piers, were carried out. The influence of socket connection structure on various seismic performance indexes of socket prefabricated piers was studied by comparing and analyzing the hysteresis curve and skeleton curve obtained through the experiment. Results showed that the ultimate failure mode of the socket prefabricated pier with circumferential corrugated treatment at the connection interface was the closest to that of the monolithic pier, the maximum bearing capacity was slightly less than that of the cast-in-situ pier but larger than that of the socket pier with roughened connection interface, and the displacement ductility and accumulated energy consumption capacity were smaller than those of socket piers with roughened connection interface. The connection interface treatment form had less influence on the residual deformation of socket prefabricated bridge piers. With the increase in the reserved socket gap size between the precast pier column and the precast foundation, the bearing capacity of the prefabricated socket bridge pier component, as well as the ductility and residual displacement of the component, would be reduced and had unfavorable effect on the energy dissipation property of the bridge pier component.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.931-951
• /
• 2015

To improve the durability and service life of reinforced concrete column such as bridge piers, an advanced composite column made of Ultra High Performance Cementitious Composites (UHPCC) permanent form is proposed. Based on elasticity plasticity theory, axial compression behavior of the composite column was studied theoretically. The first circumferential cracking load and ultimate limit loading capacity are derived for the composite column. Short composite column compression tests and numerical simulations using FEM method were carried out to justify the theoretical formula. The effects of UHPCC tube thickness on the axial compression behavior were studied. Using the established theoretical model and numerical simulation, the large dimension composite columns are calculated and analyzed with different UHPCC tube thickness. These studies may provide a reference for advanced composite column design and application.