Reinforced concrete slender bridge column design review: Australian and international standards

Slender reinforced concrete (RC) columns are prevalent in modern infrastructure due to a need to accommodate elevated highway interchanges and deep gullies. The destabilising effect due to second order effects on slender RC columns can be considerable. While the moment magnification procedures are well established and have become common industry practice, the parameters relating to real bridge articulations is often ambiguous (particularly those relating to the unsupported length of column and the effective length factor). A comparison is made using basic engineering principles with the methods available in AS5100.5-2017 and other international standards including AASHTO and Eurocode 2. The investigation gives special attention to the effective length factor k and unsupported length of column Lu in the analysis and design of a single circular cantilever column founded on a single circular pile and with elastomeric bearings provided at the top restraint (between superstructure and substructure). The impact of soil stiffness, column cracked stiffness and elastomeric bearing stiffnesses for varying column diameters on k and Lu are assessed and results provided. A comparison is made between the moment magnifier method and second order elastic analysis method as permitted by AS5100.5-2017 and other international standards to demonstrate the economic and sustainability benefits of using higher order methods based on project need.

• Record URL:
  • https://austroads.com.au/publications/bridges/abc2022-000-22
• Record URL:
  • https://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Mohanakumar, S
  • Mikhael, S
• Conference:
  • Austroads Bridge Conference, 11th, 2022, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Publication Date: 2022-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: 11th Austroads Bridge Conference, Adelaide, 15th-18th November 2022

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge piers; Bridges; Buckling; Concrete bridges; Reinforced concrete; Standardization; Standards
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Australian standard; Bridge design; Bridge pier; Buckling; Concrete bridge; International standard; Reinforced concrete
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01901696
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 7 2023 2:54PM