Title:
INELASTIC DEFORMATION ANALYSIS OF RC BRIDGE PIERS, PART 1: THEORY AND BACKGROUND
Author(s):
Martin Bimschas, Eleni Chatzi, and Peter Marti
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
112
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
267-276
Keywords:
bridge piers; flexure; inelastic deformation analysis; plastic hinges; reinforced concrete; seismic design; shear; stress fields; tension shift
DOI:
10.14359/51687653
Date:
5/1/2015
Abstract:
In this paper, a theoretical concept is presented for the inelastic
flexural deformation analysis of reinforced concrete bridge piers. The influence of shear-related inclined cracking on the flexural deformation behavior is taken into account using discontinuous stress fields for the determination of the chord forces. The goal is the development of a reliable mechanical model being able to describe the complete distribution of flexural deformations along the member and at all loading levels. The influence of various shear-carrying mechanisms on the spread of plasticity is discussed and the required mathematical relationships for a practical application are derived. The presented background gives both qualitative
and quantitative insight into the phenomena and parameters
influencing the flexural deformation behavior under the influence of shear-related tension shift. While the study focuses on the example of cantilever bridge piers with wall-type cross sections, the same concept can also be applied to more general members.