Seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge columns with lap splices using shaking table tests

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge columns that have lap splices in the plastic hinge region when subjected to impulsive near-fault ground motions. For this purpose, the paper presents the results of shaking table tests on four reinforced concrete bridge columns. By using a sophisticated non-linear finite-element analysis program, the accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced. A computer program, the RCAHEST (reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology), was used for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures. A lap-spliced bar element was used to predict the inelastic behaviours of lap splices. The solution to the seismic response of reinforced concrete bridge columns was obtained by numerical integration of the non-linear equations of motion using the Hilber–Hughes–Taylor (HHT) algorithm. The proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge columns with lap splices when subjected to impulsive near-fault ground motions is verified by comparing the analytical results with test data that were developed by the authors.