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A comparative study of different numerical element and material models to study the nonlinear responses of RC bridge pier

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Abstract

This paper aims to provide guidelines to select suitable element models and material models for steel and concrete to evaluate the nonlinear behavior of RC bridge pier. To achieve this objective, an existing two span (45.0 + 45.0 m) PSC box girder bridge with reinforced concrete circular pier has been considered to perform the nonlinear analyses. Two nonlinear element models, i.e., beam with hinges and distributed plasticity have been considered. Three material models for steel, i.e., Steel 01, Steel 02, Reinforcing steel and two material models for concrete, i.e., Concrete 01 and Concrete 02 have been considered. Overall, twelve models have been generated and nonlinear analyses have been performed on each model. Ultimate drift ratios and corresponding shear force values have been taken for comparison among the models. Mean and standard deviation values have been compared between beam with hinges and force-based distributed plasticity models. Force-based formulation allows plastic hinges to form at any location and account for axial–moment interaction by integrating the force–deformation response at sections along the length of the element. This behavior at a section is described by a fiber model. The strain softening behavior of concrete can cause localization problems in beam–column elements especially in reinforced concrete members carrying high gravity loads. In beam with hinges model, restricted plastic hinge lengths at the element ends have been adopted to maintain numerical accuracy and objectivity. From the analytical results, it is found that beam with hinges model is more efficient than force-based distributed plasticity model because of its less standard deviation, computational comfort and its accuracy in predicting the nonlinear responses of reinforced concrete (RC) column. Reinforcing steel model for steel is exclusively proposed for fiber sections and Concrete 01 material model is suggestible over Concrete 02 for concrete modelling because of its quicker convergence than Concrete 02 especially in nonlinear time history analyses.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, 506004, India

    Sai Chaitanya Banda & G. Rajesh Kumar

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  1. Sai Chaitanya Banda
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Correspondence to Sai Chaitanya Banda.

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Banda, S.C., Kumar, G.R. A comparative study of different numerical element and material models to study the nonlinear responses of RC bridge pier. Asian J Civ Eng 23, 1305–1320 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-022-00486-0

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