• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.387-403
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to assess the structural performance of deteriorated reinforced concrete bridge piers, and to provide method for developing improved evaluation method. For a deteriorated bridge piers, once the cover spalls off and bond between the reinforcement and concrete has been lost, compressed reinforcements are likely to buckle. By using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program, the accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), is used to analyze reinforced concrete structures. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. Advanced deteriorated material models are developed to predict behaviors of deteriorated reinforced concrete. The proposed numerical method for the structural performance assessment of deteriorated reinforced concrete bridge piers is verified by comparing it with reliable experimental results. Additionally, the studies and discussions presented in this investigation provide an insight into the key behavioral aspects of deteriorated reinforced concrete bridge piers.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.259-278
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• 2008

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element procedure accounting for the effects of geometric as well as material nonlinearities for reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings. Reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings and carrying a cyclic load were analyzed by using a special purpose, nonlinear finite element program, RCAHEST. For reinforced concrete, the proposed robust nonlinear material model captures the salient response characteristics of the bridge piers under cyclic loading conditions and addresses with the influence of geometric nonlinearity on post-peak response of the bridge piers by transformations between local and global systems. Seismic isolator element to predict the behaviors of laminated rubber bearings is also developed. The seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings is assessed analytically. The results show good correlation between the experimental findings and numerical predictions, and demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the proposed analytical model. Additionally, the studies and discussions presented in this investigation provide an insight into the key behavioral aspects of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.661-677
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• 2016

The quasi static test of the steel reinforced concrete (SRC) bridge piers and rigid frame arch bridge structure with SRC piers was conducted in the laboratory, and the seismic performance of SRC piers was compared with that of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers. In the test, the failure process, the failure mechanism, hysteretic curves, skeleton curves, ductility coefficient, stiffness degradation curves and the energy dissipation curves were analyzed. According to the $M-{\Phi}$ relationship of fiber section, the three-wire type theoretical skeleton curve of the lateral force and the pier top displacement was proposed, and the theoretical skeleton curves are well consistent with the experimental curves. Based on the theoretical model, the effects of the concrete strength, axial compression ratio, slenderness ratio, reinforcement ratio, and the stiffness ratio of arch to pier on the skeleton curve were analyzed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.135-154
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• 2008

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element analysis procedure for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge piers with unbonded reinforcing or prestressing bars. A computer program named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology) is used to analyze reinforced concrete structures; this program was also used in our study. Tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and models of reinforcing and prestressing steel were used account for material nonlinearity of reinforced concrete. The smeared crack approach was incorporated. To represent the interaction between unbonded reinforcing or prestressing bar and concrete, an unbonded reinforcing or prestressing bar element based on the finite element method was developed in this study. The proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge piers with unbonded reinforcing or prestressing bars is verified by comparison of its results with reliable experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.197-204
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• 2002

The resent earthquakes in worldwide have caused extensive damage to highway reinforced concrete bridge piers. It has been observed in the Korean Peninsula that the number of minor or low earthquake motions have increased year by year. Since the concern about the earthquake hazards is increased, the objective of this research is to evaluate the damage of reinforced concrete bridge piers subjected to probable earthquake motions. Experimental investigation was conducted to study the seismic performance of the full-scale specimens in size D=1.2m H=4.8m, which were constructed with different longitudinal lap splice and loading pattern, through the quasi-static test and the pseudo-dynamic test. It is thought that this result could contribute to establish the retrofit decision-making and disaster planning of reinforced concrete bridge piers in earthquake regions. And it could be also possible to quantify the damage of reinforced concrete bridge piers under cyclic loading

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.144-147
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• 2003

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element analysis procedure for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge piers using damage indices. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process may be enhanced by the use of sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. A computer program, named RCAHEST(Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. Damage indices aim to provide a means of quantifying numerically the damage reinforced concrete bridge piers sustained under earthquake loading. The proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge piers is verified by comparison with the reliable experimental results.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2A
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• pp.351-361
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• 2006

In this study, nonlinear finite element analysis procedures are presented for the seismic performance assessment of circular reinforced concrete bridge piers with confinement steel. This paper defines a damage index based on the predicted hysteretic behavior of a circular reinforced concrete bridge pier. Damage indices aim to provide a means of quantifying numerically the damage in circular reinforced concrete bridge piers sustained under earthquake loading. The proposed numerical method is applied to circular reinforced concrete bridge piers with confinement steel tested by the authors. The proposed numerical method gives a realistic prediction of seismic performance throughout the loading cycles for several test specimens investigated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.563-588
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• 2015

Piers are the most vulnerable part of a bridge structure during an earthquake event. During Kobe earthquake in 1995, several bridge piers of the Hanshin Expressway collapsed for more than 600m of the bridge length. In this paper, the most important results of an experimental and analytical investigation of ten reinforced concrete bridge piers specimens with the same cross section subjected to constant axial (or variable) load and reversed (or one direction) cycling loading are presented. The objective was to investigate the main parameters influencing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers. It was found that loading history and axial load intensity had a great influence on the performance of piers, especially concerning strength and stiffness degradation as well as the energy dissipation. Controlling these parameters is one of the keys for an ideal seismic performance for a given structure during an eventual seismic event. Numerical models for the tested specimens were developed and analyzed using SeismoStruct software. The analytical results show reasonable agreement with the experimental ones. The analysis not only correctly predicted the stiffness, load, and deformation at the peak, but also captured the post-peak softening as well. The analytical results showed that, in all cases, the ratio, experimental peak strength to the analytical one, was greater than 0.95.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.187-193
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• 2001

The object of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing circular reinforced concrete bridge piers by the Quasi-static test. Existing reinforced concrete bridge piers, which were non-seismical]y designed in accordance with the conventional provisions of Korea Highway Design Specification, are needed to rating evaluate seismic performance fur probable earthquake motions in future by developing a seismic analysis computer program with estimation algorithm. This study has been performed to verify the effect of lap spliced longitudinal steel, confinement steel type and confinement steel ratio for the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete bridge piers. Quasi-static test has been done to investigate the physical seismic performance of RC bridge piers, such as displacement ductility, energy absorption, strength degradation etc.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to evaluate seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings. A computer program, named RCAHEST(Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. The smeared crack approach is incorporated. Seismic isolator element is developed to predict behaviors of laminated rubber bearings. The proposed numerical method for seismic performance evaluation of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.