Seismic assessments of current existing reinforced concrete bridge piers require adequate analytical models that could predict the behavior of the RC (Reinforced Concrete) member on the elastic range, inelastic range, and up to post-failure range. Current available analytical models such as the plastic hinge model for pushover analysis could not capture the cyclic loading history, cumulative damage, and pinching effect on the reinforced concrete member. The analytical models using hysteretic rules could overcome the weakness of pushover analysis. Although most of the available hysteretic rules models could approximate the nonlinear pier column behavior, they require nonphysical damage parameters to be defined.

To improve the analytical model, general analytical models that only require material and geometric properties were proposed. The models were developed with the intention to represent the common hysteresis behavior of RC bridge pier subjected to static cyclic loading including pinching effect and strength degradation after the onset of failure. Three common failures observed in existing RC bridge piers were chosen for modeling study: flexure failure with buckling on longitudinal reinforcement, flexure shear failure, and pure shear failure. Each failure mode was proposed with different spring model. The hysteretic loop comparison shows that the constructed analytical models could predict the nonlinear degrading behavior with sufficient accuracy.

In addition to static analyses, dynamic analyses were also carried out and compared with pseudodynamic test result of RC bridge piers. The analytical model results closely follow the test results in term of displacement time history. Using the proposed analytical model, parametric study using far field, near fault and long duration ground motion was also conducted.

The constructed analytical models provide a base for modeling the RC bridge piers behavior for the engineering community. The models serve as a stepping stone for further research in the future.

THESIS DEFENCE COMMITTEE EXAMINATION REPORT i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
ABSTRACT iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF FIGURES viii
LIST OF TABLES xiv
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Motivation 2
1.3 Objective and Scope 2
1.4 Organization 3
Chapter 2 Literature Review 5
2.1 Failure Mode of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier 5
2.1.1 Flexure Failure 5
2.1.2 Flexure Shear Failure 5
2.1.3 Shear Failure 6
2.1.4 Prediction of Failure Mode of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier 6
2.2 Previous Researches in Reinforced Concrete Model 7
2.2.1 Research in Reinforced Concrete Model for Monotonic Loading 7
2.2.2 Research in Reinforced Concrete Model for Cyclic Loading 11
2.3 Brief Introduction of OpenSees Software 14
2.3.1 Uniaxial Material 15
2.3.2 Section Model 20
2.3.3 Element 20
2.3.4 Failure Criteria using Limit Curve 22
Chapter 3 Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Pier under Static Cyclic Loading Test 39
3.1 Introduction 39
3.2 Description of Analytical Models 40
3.2.1 Elastic Beam-Column Element 40
3.2.2 Force-Based Fiber Beam-Column Element 41
3.2.3 Rotational Slip Spring Element 42
3.2.4 Buckling Spring Element 43
3.2.5 Shear Spring Element 43
3.2.6 Load Model 45
3.2.7 Modeling Flowchart 45
3.3 Lateral Force Correction 46
3.4 Comparison of Analytical Model with Experimental Result for Single Pier 47
3.4.1 Flexure Failure Specimens 47
3.4.2 Flexure Shear Failure Specimens 48
3.4.3 Pure Shear Failure Specimens 49
3.5 Comparison of Analytical Model with Experimental Result of Pier Bent 50
3.5.1 Specimen RCF 50
3.5.2 Specimen PF 51
3.6 Analytical Model for Specimens Subjected to Long Duration 52
3.7 Short Summary 55
Chapter 4 Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier under Seismic Loading 88
4.1 Introduction 88
4.2 Model Verification Using Pseudodynamic Test Result 88
4.2.1 Specimen Niu-Dou Bridge P2 89
4.2.2 Specimen Chang B and Specimen Chang C 90
4.3 Seismic Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier 91
4.3.1 Ground Motion Selection 92
4.3.2 Scaling Earthquake Ground Motion into Code Compatible Earthquake Ground Motion 94
4.3.3 Seismic Assessment using Far Field Ground Motions 94
4.3.4 Seismic Assessment using Near Fault Ground Motion 96
4.3.5 Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier Behavior Subjected to Long Duration Ground Motion 97
4.3.6 Discussion 98
4.4 Short Summary 99
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendation 133
5.1 Summary 133
5.2 Conclusion 134
5.3 Recommendation 135
REFERENCE 136
APPENDIX 141

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