• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-101
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• 2005

This paper summarizes the application of a rational methodology for the structural assessment of older reinforced concrete Tunisian bridges. This methodology is based on ambient vibration measurement of the bridge, identification of the structure's modal signature and finite element model updating. The selected case study is the Boujnah bridge of the Tunis-Msaken Highway. This bridge is made of a continuous four-span simply supported reinforced concrete slab without girders resting on elastomeric bearings at each support. Ambient vibration tests were conducted on the bridge using a data acquisition system with nine force-balance accelerometers placed at selected locations of the bridge. The Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique was applied to extract the dynamic characteristics of the bridge. The finite element model was updated in order to obtain a reasonable correlation between experimental and numerical modal properties. For the model updating part of the study, the parameters selected for the updating process include the concrete modulus of elasticity, the elastic bearing stiffness and the foundation spring stiffnesses. The primary objective of the paper is to demonstrate the use of the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique combined with model updating to provide data that could be used to assess the structural condition of the selected bridge. The application of the proposed methodology led to a relatively faithful linear elastic model of the bridge in its present condition.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.5-14
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the normalized behaviors of existing bridge foundations reinforced by micropiles. In order to do numerical method a finite element program was used to predict the micropile behavior and quantify their reinforcing effects on existing bridge foundations. In addition, the installation effects of battered micropiles on existing foundations were compared with vertically reinforced bridge foundations. Based on the study performed, it was found that the use of battered micropiles more efficiently reduces displacement of existing foundations than vertically installed micropiles under vertical and horizontal loadings, respectively. The batter angle of micropiles was also found to be most effective at about $15^{\circ}{\sim}20^{\circ}$ in reducing the vertical displacement. The horizontal reinforcing effect continues to be larger with an increase in batter angles. So, it is believed that the results presented could give an idea to enhance In-service performance of existing bridge foundations reinforced by micropiles.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.5 s.39
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• pp.15-24
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to investigate the inelastic behavior and ductility capacity of reinforced concrete bridge piers including P-delta effects. 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. The smeared crack approach is incorporated. In addition to the material nonlinear properties, the algorithm for large displacement problem that may give an additional deformation has been formulated using total Lagrangian formulation. The proposed numerical method for the inelastic behavior and ductility capacity of reinforced concrete bridge piers is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.2 s.48
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• pp.73-81
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the inelastic behavior of reinforced high-strength 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 ol reinforcing steel. The smeared rack approach is incorporated. The increase of concrete strength due to the lateral confining reinforcement has been also taken into account to model the confined high-strength concrete. The proposed numerical method for the inelastic behavior of reinforced high-strength concrete bridge columns is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to evaluate seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge columns under varying axial force. A computer program, named RCAHEST(reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology), for the analysis for 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. The smeared crack approach is incorporated. In boundary plane at which each member with different thickness is connected, local discontinuity in deformation due to the abrupt change in their stiffness can be taken into account by introducing interface element. The effect of number of load reversals with the same displacement amplitude has been also taken into account to model the reinforcing steel and concrete. The proposed numerical method for seismic performance evaluation of reinforced concrete bridge columns under varying axial force is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1034-1039
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• 2004

The major objective of this study is to investigate the effects and application of reinforcement for steel plate girder railway bridge by the external prestressing method. It analyzed the mechanical behaviors of non-ballasted railway bridge with ballast reinforced and external post-tensioning reinforced on the finite clement analysis for the static and dynamic behavior. As a result, the reinforcement of ballasted railway bridge the external prestressing method are obviously effective for the additional dead force which is ballast. The analytical study are carried out to investigate the post-tension force decrease bending behavior and deflection in composite bridge for serviceability. To develop two type FEM model which reflect well the post-tension force transverse distribution behavior of servicing bridge. With the comparing the results of railway bridge with ballast which carried out before the post-tensioning with the results of railway bridge with ballast which carried out after post-tensioning, It is investigated that the additional dead load decrease effect and bending behavior of servicing bridge is effect by the post-tensioning. The reinforcement by using the external tendon can be reducing that structure of a degradation phenomenon by unusual stresses due to additional dead load and other problems.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.319-332
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the design comparison of totally prefabricated bridge substructure system. Prefabricated bridge substructure systems are a relatively new and versatile alternative in substructure design that can offer numerous benefits. The system can reduce the work load at a construction site and can result in shorter construction periods. The prefabricated bridge substructures are designed by the methods of Korea Highway Bridge Code (KHBD) and load and resistance factor design (AASHTO-LRFD). For the design, the KHBD with DB-24 and DL-24 live loads is used. This study evaluates the design method of KHBD (2005) and AASHTO-LRFD (2007) for totally prefabricated bridge substructure systems. The computer program, reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology was used for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures. A bonded tendon element is used based on the finite element method, and can represent the interaction between the tendon and concrete of a prestressed concrete member. A joint element is used in order to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. This study documents the design comparison of totally prefabricated bridge substructure and presents conclusions and design recommendations based on the analytical findings.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.323-328
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• 2002

The 1995 devastating Hyogoken-Nambu earthquake sent mental shock waves that awakened the public concern about the seismic performance of infrastructures in Korea. Seismic safety of reinforced concrete bridge piers could be secured through sufficient strength and stiffness of longitudinal steels and confined core concrete, and through ductile behaviour of bridge piers in the inelastic range. This study has been performed to verify the effect of lap spliced longitudinal steel for 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 etc.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.411-425
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• 2011

This paper illustrates the results of a seismic vulnerability study aimed to derive the fragility curves for typical Algerian reinforced concrete bridge piers using an analytical approach. Fragility curves express the probability of exceeding a certain damage state for a given ground motion intensity (e.g., PGA). In this respect, a set of 41 worldwide accelerometer records from which, 21 Algerian strong motion records are included, have been used in a non-linear dynamic response analyses to assess the damage indices expressed in terms of the bridge displacement ductility, the ultimate ductility, the cyclic loading factor and the cumulative energy ductility. Combining the damage indices defined for 5 damage rank with the ground motion indices, the fragility curves for the bridge piers were derived assuming a lognormal distribution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2007.09a
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• pp.39-52
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• 2007

A new type bridge combining an integral bridge and a pair of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) retaining walls having full-height rigid (FHR) facings, called the GRS integral bridge, is proposed. The geosynthetic reinforcement layers are connected to the FHR facings (i.e., RC parapets) that are integrated with a girder without using any girder-support. GRS integral bridges are basically much more cost-effective in construction and long-term maintenance while having a much higher seismic stability than conventional-type bridges having a girder via movable and fixed supports on a pair of cantilever abutments. GRS integral bridges are better than bridges using GRS retaining walls as abutments and also than conventional integral bridges with unreinforced backfill. To validate the above, a series of static cyclic lateral loading tests of the facing and a series of shaking table tests were performed on smallscaled models of different bridge types.