Reduction of Local Damages in Precast Post-Tensioned Segmental Bridge Piers

Abstract

The application of precast post-tensioned segmental (PPS) bridge piers is growing in order to reduce global damages through rocking motion of the segments when subject to lateral excitations. However, local damages still exist in form of concrete spalling and crushing at the compression zones when one segment rocks on top of the underlying segment. Hence, this work will address reduction of these local damages in PPS piers through confinement of concrete segments by glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes and use of elastic layers between segments at the joints. To achieve this goal, a robust Finite Element (FE) model is first developed in ABAQUS software, and is experimentally validated using the existing literature. The cyclic behaviour of the experimentally-validated FE model is then determined. It was found that the GFRP tubes and elastic layers significantly reduce local damages of PPS piers at the joints.