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Title: INELASTIC DEFORMATION ANALYSIS OF RC BRIDGE PIERS, PART 1: THEORY AND BACKGROUND

Author(s): Martin Bimschas, Eleni Chatzi, and Peter Marti

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 112

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 267-276

Keywords: bridge piers; flexure; inelastic deformation analysis; plastic hinges; reinforced concrete; seismic design; shear; stress fields; tension shift

DOI: 10.14359/51687653

Date: 5/1/2015

Abstract:
In this paper, a theoretical concept is presented for the inelastic flexural deformation analysis of reinforced concrete bridge piers. The influence of shear-related inclined cracking on the flexural deformation behavior is taken into account using discontinuous stress fields for the determination of the chord forces. The goal is the development of a reliable mechanical model being able to describe the complete distribution of flexural deformations along the member and at all loading levels. The influence of various shear-carrying mechanisms on the spread of plasticity is discussed and the required mathematical relationships for a practical application are derived. The presented background gives both qualitative and quantitative insight into the phenomena and parameters influencing the flexural deformation behavior under the influence of shear-related tension shift. While the study focuses on the example of cantilever bridge piers with wall-type cross sections, the same concept can also be applied to more general members.