Effect of Corrosion on the Seismic Response of a Single-Bent, Reinforced Concrete Bridge

Abstract

The effect of corrosion on a single-bent, reinforced concrete (RC) bridge subject to seismic loading is the primary focus of this research. This work attempts to determine the effects of decreasing rebar diameter and concrete cover spalling on the strength and stiffness of the RC bridge. The application of these results to the field of historic preservation will also be explored. Through the use of static and dynamic analyses, this research shows that the effects of corrosion only have a slight influence on the seismic fragility of the RC bridge. The loss of three inches of concrete cover from the bridge column is shown to have a greater effect on the strength and stiffness of the bridge than decreasing the rebar diameter by 10%. The deformation capacity and demand both increase for bridges with reduced reinforcing steel and concrete cover; however, the capacity increases to a greater degree than the demand. The seismic fragility of the bridge based on deformation criteria is greatest for the pristine structure, and it decreases as the level of damage increases. Future work should include verifying the hysteretic behavior by accounting for reinforcement slip caused by a loss of bond.