Seismic Behavior of Precast Segmental Bridge Columns with Carbon Fibre Reinforcement as Energy Dissipation Bars

Abstract

Precast construction is prevailing from China to America and Europe for its advantage in shortening construction schedule, mitigating environment pollution and reducing life cycle costs. Precast segmental bridge columns are a new structural system, whose widespread to high seismicity is slow due to concern of their seismic response. Carbon fibre reinforcement is a new material with high strength and well corrosion protection. The purpose of this contribution is to explore the applicable of carbon fibre reinforcement in reducing seismic damage and enhancing the lateral bearing capacity in precast concrete columns. The effect of partial steel reinforcement energy dissipation bars being replaced with carbon fibre bars in precast segmental bridge columns was investigated. The simulation model was proved valid by comparison with pseudo static test results. Then parametric study of amount of carbon fibre on the force-displacement curve, damping ratio, energy dissipation and joint opening was conducted. The results show the carbon fibre reinforcement is applicable in precast segmental bridge columns with competitive response behavior over its mild reinforcement counterpart.