Effects of using FRP on damage index, seismic performance levels and ductility of circular column bridge decks using IDA and NSP analyses

Abstract

One of the methods for improving seismic performance of circular columns of bridges is the use of FRP fibers. In this study, the seismic performance of circular columns in unconfined state and also considering the number of different layers of FRP fibers around them has been investigated. By performing static nonlinear analyzes, the effect of using fibers in the number of layers on the capacity of the ductility and the yield strength of these columns has been evaluated. The results of these analyzes show that by increasing the confinement, due to the use of the number of different layers of the fibers, the capacity of the ductility and the yield strength of these columns will increase. Also, the results of nonlinear time history analysis indicate decrease in the ductility demand and the seismic damage index of these columns under far field earthquakes recorded on soil type C. Incremental dynamic analyzes have been performed on different models using the 22 earthquake records introduced in the FEMA-P695 report. The results of these analyzes depict that the use of these fibers around the columns improves the seismic performance levels of Operational, Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention. The effects of this fibers on the increase in the collapse prevention performance is significant.