Exploration to novel arrangements of longitudinal reinforcement of gravity railway bridge pier by shaking table test

Abstract

Gravity pier is widely used in the high-speed railway in China. However, it is vulnerable to earthquakes due to the low longitudinal reinforcement ratio (generally less than 0.5%). This study investigated ratios and arrangement forms of the longitudinal reinforcement of gravity piers. Four scaled specimens were designed and constructed, including two novel longitudinal reinforcement forms, to explore more reasonable arrangements economically and effectively by shaking table test. The test adopted the El-Centro earthquake record to load. The crack patterns, acceleration, and displacement responses of specimens were recorded and analyzed after each loading. The results showed the two novel forms proposed in this study have exhibited excellent seismic behavior than traditional forms. We validated rationalities and economies of the two novel longitudinal reinforcement arrangement forms for gravity piers. These two proposed in the study may provide references for the seismic design of high-speed railway gravity piers.