Cyclic Nonlinear Behavior of Pile-Deck Connections Using Structural Software Models

Abstract

A study of the cyclic nonlinear behavior of a pile-deck connection (characteristic of cargo port structures) is performed using OpenSEES Concrete02 and Concrete07. Advantages and disadvantages are determined by comparison with experimental results obtained in previous works. The parameters considered are: hysteretic energy, secant modulus, and ductility at moderate and severe damage. This work seeks to define whether more complex calculations warrant additional runtime. It is found that Concrete07, in fact, is much closer to the experimental results in terms of ductility. However, the estimates of hysteretic energy and secant modulus are similar in both models. A better vulnerability estimate would be obtained based on more accurate parameters such as ductility, hysteretic energy and secant modulus.