Effects of cyclic loading hysteresis on dynamic behavior of reinforced concrete bridge piers

Abstract

A series of dynamic loading tests with use of large-scale reinforced concrete bridge piers were conducted to investigate an effect of loading hysteresis under displacement control load reversal tests. The specimens were subjected to three loading hysteresis which idealized sequence of loading displacement developed during earthquakes, i.e., in Type 1 loading, displacement was monotonically increased with increasing number of load reversals, and Type 2 used a hysteresis in the reversal order of the Type 1. Type 3 loading used a combination of Type 1 and Type 2 loading. It was understood from the study that energy dissipation capabilities depend on the loading hysteresis. First large displacement progresses deterioration of energy absorbing capability. It was also found that skelton curve of the hysteresis loop shows significant differences in accordance with loading path.