To investigate the seismic behavior of bridge pile-to-pile-cap connections, five full-scale H-shaped steel pile-to-pile-cap connection subassemblies representing a portion of a typical bridge pile foundation were tested. Two of the full-scale subassembly specimens were subjected to a vertical cyclic load simulating axial forces in a pile caused by footing overturning during an earthquake attack. Two others were loaded with cyclic lateral force and constant vertical load. One specimen was tested under proportionally varied vertical and horizontal forces. It was found that, although it was designed as a pinned connection following the current design standard, the pile-to-pile-cap connection can sustain a significant amount of moment. Localized brittle failure was observed in the vicinity of the pile-to-pile-cap connection, as the results of unexpected moment resistance. Test results also showed that the anchorage details using two V-shape bars could not develop the full-design ultimate tensile capacity. Analytical methods are developed and found adequate to evaluate the strength of the pile-to-pile-cap connection.
[1]
Yan Xiao,et al.
Experimental Studies on Full-Scale High-Strength Concrete Columns
,
2002
.
[2]
Yan Xiao,et al.
SEISMIC ASSESSMENT AND RETROFIT OF BRIDGE COLUMN FOOTINGS. DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE
,
1996
.
[3]
Yan Xiao,et al.
Seismic Performance of Bridge Footings Designed to Current Standards
,
1999
.
[4]
Yan Xiao,et al.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF A TYPICAL BRIDGE COLUMN FOOTING DESIGNED TO CURRENT CALTRANS STANDARDS
,
1995
.
[5]
Alfred A. Yee,et al.
Precast and prestressed concrete
,
2007
.
[6]
Amjad J. Aref,et al.
Seismic performance and retrofit of steel pile to concrete cap connections
,
2002
.
[7]
Denis Mitchell,et al.
Precast Concrete Connections With Embedded Steel Members
,
1980
.
[8]
Yan Xiao.
Experimental studies on precast prestressed concrete pile to cip concrete pile-cap connections
,
2003
.