Numerical Analysis Of Seismic Performance Of Segmental Bridge Pier With Mortise-and-tenon Joints

Precast segmental bridge pier is assembled with prefabricated segments on siteand held together by post-tensioned strands. Due to the excellent self-centeringcapability and post-earthquake functionality, this innovative system becomes aneconomic alternative to current cast-in-place piers, particularly when reducedconstruction time is desired. However, the current investigations have been focusedon segmental piers with plane joints, which can hardly avoid slippage betweensegments, and this probable shear slip brings potential safety hazard to segmentalpiers. In addition, numerical analysis on such members is far less than experimentalinvestigations as the difficulty of considering the nonlinearity of material, geometryand interaction all together. Therefore, a new segmental column with mortise-and-tenon joints was proposed in this study to avoid shear slip between segments andnumerical analysis was carried out to investigate its seismic performance. The mainwork contents are summarized as follows:(1) The various configurations and responding seismic behaviors of segmentalcolumns with plane joints were summarized and analyzed to identify the gaps ofcurrent study, thus the concept of segmental piers with mortise-and-tenon joints wasproposed and explained.(2) A detailed three-dimensional finite element model of unbounded post-tensioned segmental column with plane joints was developed based on ABAQUSplatform, and was validated with the experiment results of other researchers.(3) The influence of energy dissipation reinforcement ratio, confinement ofconcrete at the bottom segments and initial prestress on seismic performance of thesegmental column with mortise-and-tenon joints were studied. The specimens wereloaded with monolithic displacement and the deformation, damage distribution, loadcarrying capacity, ductility and stiffness were analyzed.(4) The influence of energy dissipation reinforcement ratio and initial prestresson self-centering capacity of the segmental column with mortise-and-tenon jointswere analyzed. Combining with conclusions of the aforesaid pushover analysis, theproper range of values of energy dissipation reinforcement ratio and initial prestresswere advised.