Quantitative Definition of Seismic Performance Levels for Precast Bridge Piers with Continuous Reinforcement

For construction sites within cities, which require fast construction because of restrictions in road occupation time, or for other occasions where construction period is an important factor because of similar reasons, application of a modular construction method using precast members is efficient in terms of shortening the construction period. The substructures of bridges are normally constructed using cast-in-place, which has been a major cause of delays in construction. Application of a modular construction method could decrease the occupation time in the sites. A prime example is the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) by the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Precast members are the key components of ABC. The main purpose of this paper is to provide clear seismic performance standards for precast bridge piers. Current seismic design codes require force-based design checks and provide qualitative evaluation of the overall structure. They do not provide specific qualitative criteria for individual structures with particular types. Previous research has been focused on reinforced-concrete bridge piers, while lacking on research towards prefabricated bridge piers with continuous reinforcements. In order to quantitatively evaluate the seismic performance level of prefabricated bridge piers, the seismic performance was quantitatively suggested in accordance with the classification of four which are operational, immediate occupancy, life safety, and collapse prevention. These criteria are cracking of cover concrete, crushing of cover concrete, yielding of axial steels, and fracture of axial steels. Based on the given seismic performance evaluation criteria, evaluation and verification were conducted on four prefabricated bridge piers with continuous reinforcement that have undergone quasistatic cyclic experiments. The moment-curvature analysis model was constructed for the parametric study and verified through experimental results. Based on the developed M-Phi model, prefabricated bridge piers with continuous reinforcement, which were designed force-based using response correction factor, were evaluated. In addition, parametric study was also conducted focusing on concrete strength, magnitude of prestress, and transverse reinforcement. Depending on the level of individual performance produced by ranges of these variables within possible runs on actual piers, the impact of 3 variables was analyzed. Furthermore, in response to changes in each variable, the impact on the relevant seismic performance level was verified through response spectrum analysis.

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