Effect of Corrosion on the Seismic Response of a Single-Bent, Reinforced Concrete Bridge
Date
2010-07-14
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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.
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Keywords
Corrosion, Reinforced Concrete, Seismic Effects, Bridges