Resilient deconstructible columns for accelerated bridge construction in seismically active areas

Abstract

This article presents an unprecedented concept for resilient bridge columns comprising precast modules designed for disassembly. Resiliency is provided by superelastic shape memory alloys that minimize permanent drift and engineered cementitious composite that minimizes damage, while keeping the rest of the column elastic. The precast modules consist of prefabricated plastic hinges and prefabricated concrete-filled fiber–reinforced polymer tubes. The columns are very desirable candidates for accelerated bridge construction. Two ¼-scale column models with engineered cementitious composite plastic hinges incorporating two types of shape memory alloy bars, one made of nickel–titanium and the other of copper–aluminum–manganese, were designed and tested under simulated earthquakes. To assess the influence of reusing column components, each of the models was first tested under a series of ground motions, and then the models were disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and subsequently retested. The reassembled models reached the same capacity as the original models but were more flexible. A simple modeling method was able to match the global measured response of the models with a reasonable accuracy.

Feasibility of Roll-Threading Superelastic Cu-Al-Mn SMA Rods

“…To resolve the issues inherent in superelastic Ni-Ti SMAs-e.g., low cold workability (or brittleness), low machinability, and high material cost-superelastic Cu-Al-Mn SMA rods have been developed (Kainuma et al 1996(Kainuma et al , 1998Sutou et al 2002Sutou et al , 2005Sutou et al , 2013Omori et al 2013;Kusama et al 2017). Studies have also been done on how the material can be used for improving the response of civil structures, like buildings and bridges, against earthquakes (Shrestha et al 2013;Hosseini et al 2015;Araki et al 2016;Varela and Saiidi 2017). Superelasticity is enhanced in a bamboo or columnar grained structure 1 Manager, Technology Development Dept., Special Metals Div., Furukawa Techno Material Co. Ltd., 5-1-8, Higashi-Yawata, Hiratsuka 2540016, Japan (corresponding author) (Kainuma et al 1998;Sutou et al 2002;Liu et al 2015), but the best superelasticity can be obtained in a single crystal in Cu-Al-Mn SMAs (Omori et al 2020;Kise et al 2021), which can be produced with cyclic heat treatment (Omori et al 2013;Kusama et al 2017).…”

Seismic performance and design of bridge column‐to‐pile shaft pipe‐pin connections in precast and cast‐in‐place bridges

“…The seismic design method was validated in a shake‐table test of a two‐column bridge bent . Several other studies were conducted at the University of Nevada, Reno utilizing column cap beam pipe pins in CIP and precast test models as well as a two‐span bridge model designed for deconstruction . They demonstrated that properly designed pipe pins transfer negligible moment.…”

“…They demonstrated that properly designed pipe pins transfer negligible moment. Moreover, they can be designed to remain elastic during earthquake . The pipe pins in all of the aforementioned studies were at the top of the columns and were not subjected to any appreciable tension.…”

“…7,8 Several other studies were conducted at the University of Nevada, Reno utilizing column cap beam pipe pins in CIP and precast test models as well as a two-span bridge model designed for deconstruction. [9][10][11][12] They demonstrated that properly designed pipe pins transfer negligible moment. Moreover, they can be designed to remain elastic during earthquake.…”

“…Moreover, they can be designed to remain elastic during earthquake. [9][10][11][12] The pipe pins in all of the aforementioned studies were at the top of the columns and were not subjected to any appreciable tension. In contrast, pipe pins at column bases can undergo tensile forces due to overturning moment caused by lateral loads.…”