Kuang Yen Liu

Seismic performance of an existing bridge with scoured caisson foundation

This paper presents in-situ seismic performance tests of a bridge before its demolition due to accumulated scouring problem. The tests were conducted on three single columns and one caisson-type foundation. The three single columns were 1.8 m in diameter, reinforced by 30-D32 longitudinal reinforcements and laterally hooped by D16 reinforcements with spacing of 20 cm. The column height is 9.54 m, 10.59 m and 10.37 m for Column P2, P3, and P4, respectively. Column P2 had no exposed foundation and was subjected to pseudo-dynamic tests with peak ground acceleration of 0.32 g first, followed by one cyclic loading test. Column P3 was the benchmark specimen with exposed length of 1.2 m on its foundation. The exposed length for Column P4 was excavated to 4 m, approximately 1/3 of the foundation length, to study the effect of the scouring problem to the column performance. Both Column P3 and Column P4 were subjected to cyclic loading tests. Based on the test results, due to the large dimension of the caisson foundation and the well graded gravel soil type that provided large lateral resistance, the seismic performance among the three columns had only minor differences. Lateral push tests were also conducted on the caisson foundation at Column P5. The caisson was 12 m long and had circular cross-sections whose diameters were 5 m in the upper portion and 4 m in the lower portion. An analytical model to simulate the test results was developed in the OpenSees platform. The analytical model comprised nonlinear flexural elements as well as nonlinear soil springs. The analytical results closely followed the experimental test results. A parametric study to predict the behavior of the bridge column with different ground motions and different levels of scouring on the foundation are also discussed.

Life-cycle evaluation of deteriorated structural performance of neutralised reinforced concrete bridges

For existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridges, the structural performance is highly dependent on the changing properties of concrete and reinforcing steel due to neutralisation-induced corrosion. As neutralisation progresses, the corrosion could become serious enough to deteriorate not only the serviceability, but also the maintainability, of the structural performance. To study the influence of neutralisation on the existing RC bridges, the inspected data and test results collected from 21 bridges in Taiwan were examined to obtain the essential parameters through regression analyses. The regressive parameters related to service time can be employed in evaluating the variation of material and sectional properties in both reinforcements and concrete, and, accordingly, the change of structural performance from time to time could be obtained quantitatively via structural analysis. As a consequence, the performance degradation curve of an existing RC bridge can be predicted and, if necessary, the appropriate timing for repair or retrofit could be suggested. The results obtained could facilitate the minimisation of life-cycle cost for the neutralised RC bridges and enhance the functionality of a bridge management system (BMS).

Damage Evaluation for RC Bridge Piers Using Vibration Measurement

In order to exhibit the structural integrity and foundation flexibility of a bridge pier through its vibration characteristics, a simplified 2-DOF pier model was proposed, in which the column flexural damage as well as the foundation stiffness reduction of the pier is simulated by a rotational spring. The rotation impedance can be estimated according to the natural frequency of the pier to show the damage level of the pier. A vulnerability index for viaduct based on the microtremors proposed by Nakamura was also introduced for the damage evaluation of bridge piers. In addition, an average spectrum analysis scheme for long-term vibration measurement was utilized to eliminate the dispersion in the identification of vibration characteristics of structures. Experimental investigation was made through ambient vibration measurements on scaled bridge pier specimens of a series of lateral loading tests which were to study the rocking response of the spread foundation. The measurements were conducted prior and posterior to those loading tests, in both fixed and flexible base conditions. Accordingly, the methods utilized were verified to give a reasonable assessment of the damage level of the bridges piers.