Analysis of Equivalent Plastic Hinge Length of High Strength Concrete Bridge Columns by Using High Strength Reinforcements

Abstract

The use of high strength reinforcement and high strength concrete in bridge columns is increasing due to many advantages of the high strength materials. In order to study the equivalent plastic hinge length of reinforced concrete bridge columns，37 column test results by using high strength reinforcement and high concrete were collected. Then, the equations proposed by Priestley, Paulay, Telemachos and JTG/T B02-01-2008 to predict the equivalent plastic hinge length of the columns were evaluated based on the experimental results. Influence factors which affect the equivalent plastic hinge length of high strength concrete bridge columns were studied through grey correlation analysis. It is found that, comparing to test results, all the proposed equations show considerable scatter in estimating the plastic hinge length of the high strength bridge columns using high strength reinforcement. The equations proposed by Paulay, Telemachos are not safe, while Priestley and JTG/T B02-01-2008 proposed equations give conservative results. Among the influence factors, the diameter of longitudinal reinforcement is the most important, secondly is the column length and section width. The axial load ratio of the column and transverse reinforcement of the specimens show small influence.