Seismic Behaviour of R/C Bridge Piers: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2000

Authors

Rui Faria (Author) FEUP; Nelson Vila Pouca (Author) FEUP; Raimundo Delgado (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Proceedings of the 12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Pages: 1-8

12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Auckland, New Zealand

Other information

Abstract (EN): This paper presents a constitutive model suitable for reproducing the seismic behaviour of hollow section bridge piers, and resumes the contribution from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto to the European Project “Advanced Methods for Assessing the Seismic Vulnerability of Existing Motorway Bridges”. The paper describes a numerical model suitable for simulating the non-linear behaviour of reinforced concrete under seismic loading. Basically a recent constitutive model founded on Damage Mechanics is used for the concrete itself, incorporating two independent scalar damage variables to reproduce degradation produced under tensile or compressive stress conditions. 2D finite element discretizations are adopted for the concrete volume, in order to fit geometric peculiarities of hollow section bridge piers. Steel reinforcement is discretized via truss elements and the corresponding cyclic behaviour simulated in accordance to the Giuffré-Menegotto-Pinto model. Calibration of the numerical model is performed on the basis of the experimental results obtained from a set of reduced scale piers tested pseudodynamically. Strategy pursued for the numerical simulation of those cyclic tests and comparison between numerical and experimental results are focused in detail. Finally a prospective assessment of the seismic behaviour of the Austrian ‘Talübergang Warth’ bridge is presented.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8