Seismic Behavior of Bridge Precast Columns with Grouted Rebar Couplers

International Concrete Abstracts Portal

The International Concrete Abstracts Portal is an ACI led collaboration with leading technical organizations from within the international concrete industry and offers the most comprehensive collection of published concrete abstracts.

  


Title: Seismic Behavior of Bridge Precast Columns with Grouted Rebar Couplers

Author(s): Arya Ebrahimpour and Barbara Earles

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 341

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 188-201

Keywords: bridge; column; precast; cast-in-place; grouted couplers; seismic response

DOI: 10.14359/51727030

Date: 6/30/2020

Abstract:
Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) technologies are being adopted by state transportation departments. One particular ABC technology is the use of precast concrete members joined with mechanical connectors. However, there are concerns about these connections in moderate-to-high seismic regions. A study was carried out for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) on the seismic performance of precast columns with grouted couplers versus the conventional cast-in-place columns. Experimental data provided the necessary input to model the grouted couplers. Using the OpenSees finite element analysis program, selected bridges were subjected to the seismic conditions of the most seismically active location in Idaho. Under seismic conditions considered, the stresses in both the longitudinal reinforcing bars and the grouted coupler regions are found to be well within acceptable ranges. The study resulted in recommendations on allowable column drifts, a list of approved grouted rebar couplers, and typical detail drawings for inclusion in the ITD’s Bridge Manual.

Related References:

1. Federal Highway Administration. (2018). “Accelerated Bridge Construction.” (July 22, 2018).

2. ACI Committee 439. (2007). Types of Mechanical Splices for Reinforcing Bars, Report No. ACI 439.3R-07, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI.

3. Haber, Z. B., Saiidi, M. S. and Sanders, D. H. (2013). Precast Column-Footing Connections for Accelerated Bridge Construction in Seismic Zones, Report No. CCEER 13-08, Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research, University of Nevada, Reno.

4. Pantelides, C. P., Ameli, M. J., Parks, J. E. and Brown, D. N. (2014). Seismic Evaluation of Grouted Splice Sleeve Connections for Precast RC Bridge Piers in ABC, Report No. UT-14.09, University of Utah Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT.

5. Haber, Z. B., Saiidi, M. S., and Sanders, D. H. (2015). “Behavior and Simplified Modeling of Mechanical Reinforcing Bar Splices.” ACI Structural Journal, 112(2), 179-188.

6. Tazarv, M., and Saiidi, M. S. (2016). "Seismic design of bridge columns incorporating mechanical bar splices in plastic hinge regions." Engineering Structures, 124, 507-520.

7. Ling, J. H., Abd. Rahman, A. B., Ibrahim, I. S., and Abdul Hamid, Z. (2016). "Tensile capacity of grouted splice sleeves." Engineering Structures, 111, 285-296.

8. Haber, Z. B., Mackie, K. R., and Al-Jelawy, H. M. (2017). "Testing and Analysis of Precast Columns with Grouted Sleeve Connections and Shifted Plastic Hinging." Journal of Bridge Engineering, 22(10), 04017078.

9. Al-Jelawy, H. M., Mackie, K. R., and Haber, Z. B. (2018). "Shifted Plastic Hinging for Grouted Sleeve Column Connections." ACI Structural Journal, 115(4).

10. Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees) Computer software.. Univ. of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. (April 15, 2019).

11. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2015). AASHTO Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design, Washington, D. C.

12. Wehbe, N. I., M. S. Saiidi, and D. H. Sanders. (1999). “Seismic Performance of Rectangular Bridge Columns with Moderate Confinement,” ACI Structural Journal. 96(2), 248-258.

13. Ebrahimpour, A., Earles, B. E., Maskey, S., Tangarife, M., Sorensen, A. D. (2016). Seismic performance of columns with grouted couplers in Idaho accelerated bridge construction applications, Report No. FHWA-ID-16-246, Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, ID.

14. Bentley Systems, Inc. (2013). STAAD.Pro V8i Technical Reference Manual, Exton, PA.

15. Splice Sleeve North America, Inc. (SSNA) (2016). NMB Splice Sleeve Type U-X, SNX11, and A11W Systems for Connecting Reinforcing Bars, Report ESR-3433, Splice Sleeve North America, Inc.