A Calculation Method of Coupled Nonlinearities in Slender Bridge Piers

Abstract

In some cases, due to particular conditions, the project of a bridge requires the construction of high piers. The study of these structural elements needs to go beyond a simple linear analysis, especially considering the second order effects, that contemplate the possibility of instability of the pier due to the slenderness it. In this paper a toolbox that considers the geometrical nonlinearity, the nonlinearity mechanical behaviour of the materials and the time dependent properties of the concrete is presented. The assessment of the pier starts with the possibility of cracking in the section (material non linearity) with consequent loses of stiffness. The second step takes into account the increment of bending moment caused by the P-d effect (geometrical non linearity) and strictly related to the slenderness of the member. The last step is the evaluation of the increment of deformation caused by permanent loads, mainly due to the loss of the concrete stiffness in time for creep effect of concrete. In this paper, a detailed explanation of the automatic procedure is provided and finally the application to a real case of a bridge pier under a critical stage construction condition is presented.