Experiments on prefabricated segmental bridge piers with continuous longitudinal reinforcing bars

Prestressed precast concrete bridge piers have recently been considered as an excellent design alternatives because of their recentering capability under seismic actions. Axial prestressing is designed to control cracking at precast joints by service loads. In this paper, a combination of continuous mild reinforcing bars and prestressing tendons is suggested for enhancing the seismic performance as well as economy of post-tensioned precast bridge piers. Cyclic tests were conducted to measure and observe the behavior of the proposed bridge pier system. By preventing buckling and fracture of the reinforcing bars in the plastic hinge region, the test specimens showed improved structural behavior up to a drift level of 8% without reduction in their flexural strength. Energy absorption capacity was also investigated. An appropriate magnitude of initial prestressing force was found to be an essential design consideration for preventing fracture of tendons by lateral displacement of columns.