Shape memory alloy-reinforced UHPC tube confined bridge piers for enhancing the seismic resistance of highway bridges

Abstract

Multi-span continuous highway bridges supported with reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers may experience large permanent deformation after strong earthquakes. To overcome the limitations, an innovative UHPC tube-confined SMA reinforced bridge pier, i.e., shape memory alloy (SMA) replacing the steel rebars at the plastic hinge region and a prefabricated UHPC tube substituting the cover concrete, is proposed. To fully utilize the tensile strength of UHPC, the UHPC tube is embedded into the foundation. A performance-based seismic design procedure considering target residual drift as engineering demand parameter (EDP) is proposed to design this novel UHPC-SMA pier. The seismic responses of novel bridge systems supported by UHPC piers (Bridge II) and UHPC-SMA piers (Bridge III) are investigated and compared with reference bridge (Bridge I) having RC piers. The results indicate that both UHPC piers and UHPC-SMA piers are efficient in improving the seismic resistance of highway bridges. Compared with Bridge I, the prefabricated UHPC tube significantly decreases the residual deformation of Bridge II piers by 22.9 % as a result of the bridging effect of steel fibers. Due to the excellent self-centering property of SMA, the residual deformation of Bridge III piers decreases further by 57.8 % in comparison to reference bridge. The UHPC tube increases the low stiffness of bridge piers caused by SMA rebars at the plastic hinge region. The combination of UHPC tube and SMA can effectively prevent core concrete from severe damage with less dissipated energy of bridge piers.