Analytical models for seismic assessment of reinforced concrete bridge pier

This paper presents general composed analytical models to predict the reinforced concrete (RC) bridge pier behavior. The analytical models were developed in OpenSees software with the capability 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 models were composed in order to accommodate the three common failures observed in existing RC bridge pier (flexure failure with buckling of longitudinal reinforcement, flexure shear failure, and pure shear failure). The accuracy of the model was verified by 12 experimental test data. The results showed that the analytical models could simulate the nonlinear flexural behaviour up to post-failure behavior with satisfactory result for flexure failure mode and flexure shear failure mode. However, the analytical model for pure shear failure mode could not capture the hysteretic loop of the test data well enough. In addition to static analysis, dynamic analysis was also carried out and compared with 3 pseudo-dynamic test data. The analytical model result showed a good agreement with test result in term of displacement time history. This paper emphasize on the modelling concept, the elements that were used, and the analytical results.