CUMULATIVE SEISMIC DAMAGE OF CIRCULAR BRIDGE COLUMNS: BENCHMARK AND LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE TESTS

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate cumulative damage in reinforced concrete circular bridge piers subjected to a series of earthquake excitations. Twelve identical quarter-scale bridge columns, designed in accordance with current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials specifications, were fabricated and tested to failure. This paper summarizes the results of Phase I testing that consisted of benchmark tests to establish the monotonic force-deformation envelope and the energy capacity under standard cyclic loads, and constant amplitude tests to determine the low-cycle fatigue characteristics of typical flexural bridge columns. A companion paper presents the results of variable amplitude testing that focused on the effects of load path on cumulative damage. Test observations indicate two potential failure modes: low cycle fatigue of the longitudinal reinforcing bars and confinement failure caused by rupture of the confining spirals. The former failure mode is associated with relatively large displacement amplitudes in excess of 4% lateral drift, while the latter is associated with a larger number of smaller amplitude cycles. A fatigue life expression is developed that can be used in damage-based seismic design of circular, flexural bridge columns.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.concrete.org/Publications/InternationalConcreteAbstractsPortal.aspx.aspx?m=details&i=701
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/13846957
• Corporate Authors:

  American Concrete Institute (ACI)

  38800 Country Club Drive
  Farmington Hills, MI  United States  48331
• Authors:
  • El-Bahy, A
  • Kunnath, S K
  • Stone, W C
  • Taylor, A W
• Publication Date: 1999-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 633-641
• Serial:
  • ACI Structural Journal
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Concrete Institute (ACI)
  • ISSN: 0889-3241
  • Serial URL: http://www.concrete.org/PUBS/JOURNALS/SJHOME.ASP

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benchmarks; Bridge piers; Bridges; Columns; Ductility; Earthquake resistant structures; Earthquakes; Failure; Fatigue tests; Longitudinal reinforcement; Reinforced concrete bridges; Reinforcing bars; Repeated loads; Structural deterioration and defects
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00767738
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: BCS-8820502
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 1999 12:00AM