Performance of Existing Bridge Columns under Cyclic Loading--Part 2: Analysis and Comparison with Theory

This study was conducted to investigate the flexural and shear performance of existing columns for purposes of seismic assessment and retrofit design, particularly with regard to assessing the residual strengths present in degraded hinge regions. In this, the second part of a two-part paper, observed experimental results from a series of column tests are evaluated and compared with various predictive models of column shear and flexural behavior. Both current design approaches and proposed assessment behavioral models are evaluated. Based on the comparisons with test results from this and other studies, recommendations are made for assessing the flexural and shear capacities of existing bridge columns.