A prefabricated structure scheme for thin-wall pier and seismic performance analysis

Aiming at the problem that the prefabricated assembly technology of the existing column piers is difficult to be applied to the thin-wall piers with large cross-section ratio,a new segmental horizontal parallel prefabricated pier structure scheme was proposed. The prefabricated segments were connected by bidirectional unbonded prestressed tendons,grouting sleeves and concrete shear keys. Based on a project example of an aircraft-loaded wide bridge at an international airport,the refined finite element models of new prefabricated pier and cast-in-place pier were established using ABAQUS platform. The quasi-static analyses were conducted to compare the seismic performance of two piers,and the effect of prestressed tendon ratios and the depth of shear key on the seismic performance of the new prefabricated pier was systematically discussed. The results show that the new prefabricated pier and cast-in-place pier show the bending failure mode with fully developed plastic hinge at the bottom of the pier under longitudinal load,while the two piers show the bending-shear failure mode under transverse load. Compared with cast-in-place pier,the longitudinal and transverse bearing capacity of prefabricated pier is increased by 68. 5% and 43. 0%,respectively,but the residual displacement is decreased by 49. 2% and 67. 8%,respectively. Increasing vertical prestressed tendon ratio can significantly increase the horizontal bearing capacity of the prefabricated pier,and increasing horizontal prestressed tendon ratio and the depth of shear key can limit the relative deformation of the joint. © 2024 Southeast University. All rights reserved.