Innovative resilient system of precast segmental RC hollow bridge columns

This study introduces an innovative resilient system for precast segmental reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns. The proposed system consists of a typical precast hollow core RC segmental column and an energy dissipation (ED) element. The ED element is a precast RC column partially filling the hollow core of the segmental column. As a new damage control component, the ED element (the inner column) is adopted to provide the system with adequate ED capacity. Using commercial finite element (FE) software, a three-dimensional (3D) model of experimentally tested precast segmental columns was developed. After validating the results of the FE model, the model was used to systematically investigate the behavior of the proposed system under lateral cyclic loads. The parameters studied are related to the design details of the inner column with respect to the main column (the precast segmental column): column height ratio, and cross-sectional area ratio. In addition, concrete compressive strength, main reinforcement yield strength, and longitudinal reinforcement ratio were examined. Moreover, under the influence of successive earthquakes, repeated cyclic loading scenarios were applied to the proposed system. The FE results show that, the new system with a well-designed inner column can ensure limited damage, controlled increase in the lateral resistance, acceptable ED capacity and the required resilience after successive earthquakes.