Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns at Sub-Freezing Temperatures
The final goal of this research was to develop recommendations for the future seismic design or assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge bent structures in cold seismic regions. Ten large scale circular columns were constructed and tested under cyclic reversal of loads inside an environmental chamber in the North Carolina State University Constructed Facilities Laboratory (CFL). The columns were tested at freezing (-40°C, -40°F) and ambient (23°C, 74°F) temperatures. In order to characterize every aspect of the seismic response at low temperatures, the columns' design was governed by a desired behavior: shear dominated columns, flexural dominated columns and reinforced concrete filled steel tube columns. Results obtained show that RC members exposed to the combined effects of sub-freezing temperatures and cyclic loads undergo a gradual increase in strength and stiffness coupled with a reduction in displacement capacity. The experimental results were used to calibrate a fiber-based model and a series of static and inelastic analyses were performed to typical Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities bent configurations. Based on the results obtained from the experimental tests, the non-linear simulations and a moment-curvature parametric analysis, a simple methodology was developed to account for the low temperature flexural overstrength and reduction in ductility capacity.
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Corporate Authors:
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
2501 Stinson Drive, Campus Box 7908
Raleigh, NC United States 27695-7908Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Research, Development and Technology Transfer, 2301 Peger Road
Fairbanks, AK United States 99709-5399Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Montejo, Luis A
- Kowalsky, Mervyn J
- Hassan, Tasnim
- Publication Date: 2008-3
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Edition: Final Report
- Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 397p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bents; Columns; Ductility; Earthquake resistant design; Flexural strength; Frigid regions; Laboratory tests; Low temperature; Reinforced concrete bridges; Repeated loads; Simulation; Structural analysis
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01103975
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AK-RD-08-01
- Contract Numbers: HPR-4000(48)/61378
- Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jul 2 2008 10:45AM