A Procedure for the Approximate Calculation of the Stiffness and Energy Dissipation Characteristics of Piers for the Seismic DBD and Performance Evaluation of RC Bridges

Abstract

The stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics of RC rectangular hollow bridge piers are investigated using two different models for the sections: a continuous non-linear without energy dissipation derived from non-linear fibre analyses and an equivalent bilinear hysteretic derived from a non-linear model with energy dissipation due to pinching behaviour. Using the results obtained and the plastic hinge theory, an equivalent linear viscoelastic model with secant to yield stiffness and equivalent damping is defined. The implications of using these properties are discussed within the framework of the performance based seismic evaluation and design of RC bridges