Hollow bridge columns with triangular confining reinforcement

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the structural performance of hollow bridge columns with triangular confining reinforcement. The proposed triangular reinforcement details were equal to the conventional reinforcement details in terms of required structural performance. The triangular confining reinforcement is also economically feasible and rational, and facilitate shorter construction periods. Three hollow cast-in-situ concrete and three precast concrete bridge columns were tested. The behavior of the hollow columns is discussed in terms of their lateral load-drift relationship, cumulative dissipated energy, and lateral load-strain curves. The nonlinear finite element analysis program RCAHEST (reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology) was used to analyze hollow bridge columns, and adopted a modified joint element for the precast concrete bridge columns. The results showed that the proposed innovative reinforcement details were superior to the conventional reinforcement details, in terms of the required structural performance.