Seismic design of partially concrete-filled steel tubular columns with enhanced ductility

摘要

This paper deals with the seismic design and analysis of partially concrete-filled steel bridgernpiers with enhanced ductility supporting highway bridge superstructures. The basic characteristics of the thinwalledrnsteel tubular structures are noted and the importance of partial concrete fill in improving the strength andrnductility of such structures is explained.A seismic design method for ultimate strength and ductility evaluation ofrnconcrete-filled, thin-walled, steel tubular bridge piers is presented.The application of the method is demonstratedrnby comparing the computed strength and ductility of some bridge piers with test results. The method is applicablernfor both the design of new, and retrofitting of existing, thin-walled steel tubular bridge piers. The effects of somernimportant parameters, such as width-to-thickness ratio, column slenderness ratio, height of infill concrete, andrnresidual stress, on the ultimate strength and ductility of thin-walled steel tubular bridge piers are presented andrndiscussed.