Hysteretic behavior of composite bridge columns with plastic hinge enhanced by engineered cementitious composite jacket for seismic resistance

Engineered cementitious composites are highly ductile materials, which can greatly improve the ductility of structures. However, there is no systematic design guide for composite structures with engineered cementitious composite. In this study, we investigated the hysteretic behavior of bridge columns with a plastic hinge enhanced by an engineered cementitious composite jacket for seismic resistance by pseudo-static test and numerical analysis. The results showed that the application of engineered cementitious composite jacket reduces the damage of the bridge column and improves its ultimate displacement tolerance and energy dissipation capacity. A height of engineered cementitious composite jacket no less than 1.5 times the column diameter and an axial compression ratio of 0.2 are recommended to ensure the integrity, lateral bearing capacity, and energy dissipation. This study provides valuable experience for the practical engineering application of engineered cementitious composite columns in seismic areas.

Automated summary

Engineered cementitious composites improve structural ductility and are suitable for seismic reinforcement. The study found that using an engineered cementitious composite jacket can reduce damage to bridge columns and enhance their seismic performance.