Title:
Seismic Performance of Sacrificial Interior Shear Keys
Author(s):
Pedro Franco Silva, Sami Megally, and Frieder Seible
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
100
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
177-187
Keywords:
abutment; seismic; shear
DOI:
10.14359/12481
Date:
3/1/2003
Abstract:
This paper presents experimental and analytical results from a research program sponsored by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and conducted at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) to evaluate the seismic performance of sacrificial interior shear keys. The experimental program consisted of seven experiments under which the following variables were investigated: 1) loading protocol (monotonic, quasistatic reversed cyclic, and dynamic reversed cyclic loading); 2) geometry (aspect ratio); and 3) reinforcement ratio. These experiments provided results that were used to develop rational models of the force and deformation capacity of sacrificial interior shear keys as well as their postpeak performance under cyclic loads. Test results showed that in its current form, existing design methodologies underestimate the capacity of sacrificial interior shear keys and a more comprehensive design procedure must be implemented. Based on the experimental results, a detailed analytical investigation of the sacrificial shear keys was carried out and results from this investigation are presented herein.