Hybrid simulation of a carbon fibre–reinforced polymer-strengthened continuous reinforced concrete girder bridge

Abstract

The behaviour of bridge columns strengthened using carbon fibre–reinforced polymer composites has been studied extensively. However, few investigations have been conducted regarding the influence of carbon fibre–reinforced polymer-strengthened columns on the seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete continuous girder bridges. This article details the hybrid simulations of a continuous reinforced concrete girder bridge whose columns are strengthened by carbon fibre–reinforced polymer jackets. In the hybrid simulations, one ductile column is selected as the experimental element, which is represented by a 1/2.5-scale specimen, and the remaining bridge parts are simultaneously modelled in OpenSees (the Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation). After combining the experimental element and the numerical substructure, the hybrid analysis model is developed with the established hybrid simulation system. The displacements of the bridge and the lateral force–displacement response of the experimental element in hybrid simulation are obtained. Compared with the results of numerical simulation, the stability and accuracy of the established hybrid simulation system are demonstrated. Meanwhile, the comparative hybrid simulation results of the as-built bridge and the carbon fibre–reinforced polymer-strengthened bridge also prove the effectiveness of the carbon fibre–reinforced polymer jackets’ confinement in the continuous reinforced concrete girder bridge.