Title

Cumulative seismic damage of circular bridge columns: Benchmark and low-cycle fatigue tests

Authors

Authors

A. El-Bahy; S. K. Kunnath; W. C. Stone;A. W. Taylor

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

ACI Struct. J.

Keywords

bridges (structures); cyclic loads; damage; ductility; earthquake-resistant structures; fatigue tests; Construction & Building Technology; Engineering, Civil; Materials; Science, Multidisciplinary

Abstract

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 AASHTO 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 will present 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 due to rupture of the confining spirals. The former failure mode is associated with relatively large displacement amplitudes in excess of 4 percent lateral drift, while the latter is associated with a larger number of smaller amplitude cycles. A fatigue life expression is developed that call be used in damage-based seismic design of circular, flexular bridge columns.

Journal Title

Aci Structural Journal

Volume

96

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

633

Last Page

641

WOS Identifier

WOS:000085762200020

ISSN

0889-3241

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