Seismic performance of hollow circular bridge piers

Seismic performance of hollow bridge columns is a significant issue for a h igh-speed rail project in Taiwan because ductility of these columns varies with the type of lateral reinforcement. In this paper three hollow circular bridge piers are tested tinder a constant axial load and a pseudostatic, c yclically reversed horizontal load. Effects of ductility and dissipated ene rgy are investigated. An analytical model is det,eloped to predict the mome nt-curvature relationship of each section and the load-displacement relatio nship of the columns. Test results are also compared with those from the pr oposed analytical model. Ductility factors of the tested specimens range fr om 2.8 to 9.0, and the analytical model satisfactorily predicts the load-di splacement relationship of such columns with flexure failure.