Finite element modelling of bridge piers subjected to eccentric load combined with reinforcement corrosion

Abstract

Corrosion of reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete infrastructure has been identified as the leading cause of concrete deterioration in North America. As the most critical bridge element, piers are more susceptible to reinforcement corrosion, especially in coastal areas and cold regions due to the application of de-icing salts. The combination of second-order effects and local nonlinearity dictates the failure mode of slender and eccentrically loaded columns. Degradation effects would be more critical in the presence of corrosion, at which the nonlinearity effects become more dominant. A comprehensive corrosion damage model is adopted from the literature in the present study. A stage-based corrosion scenario is then proposed to study the detrimental corrosion effects on the ultimate capacity, rigidity, and ductility of bridge piers subjected to eccentric load through finite element analysis. The interaction diagram of the corroded pier is then generated at different corrosion stages to introduce new safety margins. The accuracy of the proposed model is investigated by comparisons with available test data from the literature.