The influence of socket depth on the seismic behavior of precast hollow bridge pier

• Published in: Structures (Oxford) 2024-11, Vol.69, p.107588, Article 107588
• Main Authors: Chen, Yunhui, Chu, Liusheng, Feng, Hu, Cui, Wenkai, Wang, Yinhui, Zhang, Chongbin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Numerical analysis; Precast hollow concrete bridge pier; Pseudo-static test; Seismic performance; Shallow socket connection; Socket depth
• ISSN: 2352-0124; 2352-0124
• DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.107588

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) offers significant advantages, including rapid construction speed, minimal environmental impact, and high-quality components. This paper proposed the precast hollow concrete bridge pier with shallow socket connection (PHCSS pier) to reduce the weight of the pier column and bearing platform. The PHCSS pier consisted of a hollow high-strength concrete column and a shallow socket foundation. Following the erection of the column, grouting material (GM) was poured into the column bottom to enhance the bearing capacity. Two PHCSS piers with varying socket depths were studied by pseudo-static test to assess the seismic performance and determine the optimal socket depth. The results demonstrated that this shallow socket connection was effective, the PHCSS pier had a failure mode of bending damage. Deeper socket depth significantly increased the bearing and energy dissipation capacities while only slightly improved the deformation capacity. Specifically, when the socket depth increased from 240 mm to 400 mm, the bearing capacity enhanced by 11.00 %, whereas the ductility coefficient only increased by 1.45 %. Numerical analysis verified that the finite element model accurately predicted the seismic response of the PHCSS pier. It was found that once the socket depth exceeded 0.5D (where D represents the column diameter), there was no significant change in the seismic performance. Furthermore, when the socket depth increased from 0.5D to 0.9D, the cumulative energy dissipation only enhanced by 13.9 %. Therefore, 0.5D was established as the critical socket depth.