Nonlinear seismic assessment for the post-repair response of RC bridge piers

Nonlinear seismic analyses of repaired reinforced concrete bridge piers have been carried out using the new repair element. Comparative studies have been conducted for reinforced concrete piers and columns being repaired by steel jackets and CFRP. For this purpose, a simplified CFRP constitutive material relationship is developed. Comparison is made in between experimental results and analytical predictions, and the analytical predictions exhibit reasonable correlation with the experimental results. In addition, nonlinear earthquake time-history analyses have also been performed for a reinforced concrete bridge structure being virtually repaired by CFRP and steel jacketing. Repair elements are used to model the virtually repaired bridge structure and the created multiple combinations of earthquakes are applied for the investigation of post-repair response. Comparative analytical results reveal the virtual necessity of performing nonlinear time-history analyses, particularly when post-repair response features are required. The analytical predictions also show that the effect of repair on a particular member may affect on the response of a whole structure. It is thus concluded that the present analytical approaches are expected to provide salient information regarding a healthy seismic upgrading intervention.