Title:
Seismic Testing of Bridge Columns Incorporating
High-Performance Materials
Author(s):
Jose I. Restrepo, Frieder Seible, Bernd Stephan, and Matthew J. Schoettler
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
103
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
496-504
Keywords:
bridges; high-performance concrete; hoops; reinforcement; seismic; self-consolidating concrete
DOI:
10.14359/16425
Date:
7/1/2006
Abstract:
Two 35%-scale bridge column units, representing typical construction of the approach structure for the Oakland touchdown substructure of the new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, were constructed and tested under quasi-static reversed cyclic loading in the Powell Structural Research Laboratories at the University of California, San Diego. The aim of the test program was to assess the seismic performance of columns built using high-performance reinforcing steel and to compare it with that obtained from columns constructed incorporating Grade 60 ASTM A 706 reinforcement. Self-consolidating concrete with a specified compressive strength of 55 MPa (8 ksi) was used throughout. The tests conclusively showed that both units can be designed to form flexural plastic hinges and can sustain drift levels of approximately 4% without failure. The presence of self-consolidating concrete did not adversely affect the response of the units. A discussion of the test results is presented in the paper.