A Comparative Test Study of the Impact Performances of Stainless-Steel Rebar Equal-Strength Replacement Piers

Abstract

It has been found that there are rebar instability and construction complexity phenomena associated with the replacements of ordinary pier rebars with stainless-steel rebars of equal piece numbers and strength. Therefore, this study explored the issues of the equal-strength replacements of stainless-steel pier rebars with different distributions. The study utilized the most advanced domestic multi-function super-high heavy hammer impact test system available, and conducted a comparative test of the horizontal impact results of two groups of pier models with 1/5 contraction scales. The purpose of the testing was to analyze the impact force, impact displacement, strain time history curve, crack propagation and distribution, ultrasonic damages to the concrete, and so on. The test results showed the following: The original specimen displayed a consistent variation trend with the equal replacement specimen of the stainless-steel rebar of different distributions from the aspects of the maximum impact force, strain of the rebar and concrete, displacement peak, and so on, under the conditions of continuous multiple impacts. The relative variation rate was found to be within the scope of ± 10% under equal impact energy. The quantity and distribution of the cracks, as well as the concrete damages, were also found to be approximately consistent under equal impact energy. Therefore, in this study, it was considered to be feasible for the solution of the problems related to rebar corrosion, strength surplus, resource waste, and so on, to replace ordinary pier rebars with stainless-steel rebars with equal-strength and different distributions.