@book{JRC34983, editor = {}, address = {Geneva (Switzerland)}, year = {2006}, author = {Paulotto C and Ayala G and Taucer F}, isbn = {}, abstract = {In this paper the stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics of RC hollow rectangular bridge piers are investigated. The work involves two different levels of model sophistication, namely: a continuous non-linear model without energy dissipation derived from non-linear finite element analyses and an equivalent linear viscoelastic model with secant to yield stiffness and equivalent damping characteristics. In all stages of the analyses the results obtained are compared and validated with those derived from existing experimental results. The potential of using this procedure for determining the linear-equivalent stiffness and dissipation characteristics of piers and ultimately of full bridges is discussed within the framework of performance based design and evaluation of RC bridges using the substitute structure method. }, title = {Simplified Model for the Stiffness and Energy Dissipation Characteristics of Hollow Rc Bridge Piers}, url = {}, volume = {}, number = {}, journal = {}, pages = {1-10}, issn = {}, publisher = {Symporg SA}, doi = {} }