Title: Confinement of Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns and Pier Walls

Author(s): M. S. Saiidi, N. Wehbe, S. Acharya, and D. Sanders

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 162

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 93-116

Keywords: bridges (structures); columns (supports); confined concrete; ductility; earthquakes; reinforced concrete; walls; Structural Research

DOI: 10.14359/1425

Date: 8/1/1996

Abstract:
Presents a review of (1) previous experimental studies on the earthquake response of square reinforced concrete columns and a discussion of their applicability to bridge columns in areas of moderate and high seismic risk; (2) confinement steel design for rectangular columns based on different codes and methods and an example column to compare these codes; and (3) two concrete confinement models in relationship to their application in estimating a range of displacement ductility for square columns, rectangular columns, and pier walls. The results of part (1) showed that previous tests on square columns are mostly under relatively large axial stresses which represent the state of building columns and that the data are generally aimed at areas of high seismic risk. Part (2) showed a considerable variation among different codes and methods in terms of the amount of lateral reinforcement and the parameters considered in design. The results of part (3) indicated that measured displacement ductilities were generally within a range calculated using the two confinement models selected in this study.