Ductility of Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns with Moderate Confinement

Abstract

This study examines the ductility and behavior of rectangular reinforced concrete bridge columns with moderate confinement. The research comprised experimental and analytical investigations of the response of such columns when subjected to lateral loading. Four half-scaled rectangular bridge columns were built and tested. The specimens were divided into two groups, based on the amount of lateral steel. In the analytical study, several existing models pertaining to the concrete stress-strain relationship and the plastic hinge length were utilized and compared. The analytical study revealed that for rectangular bridge columns with relatively low axial loads and moderate confinement, it is possible to predict with reasonable accuracy the response of the columns to lateral cyclic loading.