ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND DUCTILITY OF STATE-OF-THE-ART CONCRETE-FILLED STEEL BRIDGE PIERS IN JAPAN

Briefly in this paper are described the difference in local buckling m odes between cross-sections of steel and composite (concrete-filled st eel) columns, the difference in cross-sections between composite colum ns in bridge piers and buildings, structural details of standard steel and composite columns for bridge piers, construction of composite bri dge piers (bridge piers with composite columns), and the characteristi cs of stiffness, ultimate strength and ductility of composite piers in Japan. Reconstruction and repair using composite columns for reinforc ed concrete (RC) and steel piers, which collapsed or were damaged due to the Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake which occurred on 17 January 1995, ar e introduced. Future research needs are also summarized for developing more rational seismic design methods for composite piers. (C) 1997 El sevier Science Ltd.