ScienceAsia 33 (2007): 175-185 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2007.33.175

Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier Columns Subjected to Moderate Seismic Load

Sumnieng Ongsupankul^a*, Torkul Kanchanalai^b and Kazuhiko Kawashima^c

 
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the results of the test of six reinforced concrete bridge column specimens and of six analytical specimens subjected to constant axial load and cyclic lateral load. The objective of the investigation is to report the strength and ultimate displacement of the square columns having different amount and arrangement of tie bars. Fiber element inelastic analyses were conducted to verify the test results and were in reasonable agreement with the experimental study results. It was found that the criterion of limiting lateral strain in the concrete core gave satisfactory estimate of the maximum column deflection. Further analytical study of six columns with different tie reinforcement ratio and subjected to varying cyclic loads was performed. Based on the experimental and analytical studies of reinforced concrete columns subjected to the axial loads ranging between 0.05f’_cA_g and 0.12f’_cA_g, tie reinforcement ratio, ρ _s = 0.50% which corresponds to approximately 60% of the minimum amount required by the AASHTO seismic provision exhibits moderate ductility ratio being 4.3 and 7.3 for axial loads of 0.12f’_cA_g and 0.05f’_cA_g respectively.

KEYWORDS: Bridge pier, Seismic design, Reinforced concrete column, Ductility, Strength.

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