Title: Enhanced Seismic Response of a Bridge Pier Strengthened with UHPFRC

Author(s): Adriano Reggia, Alessandro Morbi, and Giovanni A. Plizzari

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 326

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 67.1-67.10

Keywords:

DOI: 10.14359/51711050

Date: 8/10/2018

Abstract:
The increasing age of Reinforcing Concrete (RC) road transport infrastructures, built mainly between the 60s and the 70s, is quickly becoming a key theme for the future development of constructions in many industrialized countries. It is believed that, given the age of the RC constructions, the increased traffic loads, and the growing awareness of seismic risk, there is a significant need for intervention in our country. The vertical elements, such as abutments and piers, are the parts of these structures more susceptible to seismic loading and the more exposed to the environment. During the last few years, new structural materials were developed and proposed to the market so that they are now ready for the national and international structural codes. Repairing, strengthening or seismic retrofitting RC structures with Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) offers a valuable opportunity to increase both seismic response and durability of these elements. This study demonstrates experimentally the possibility to enhance the seismic response of a RC bridge pier by means of the application of a thin layer of UHPFRC around the element.