Abstract
A method is proposed to construct hysteresis models for thin walled steel bridge piers of single degree of freedom. The models have been obtained from static as well as quasi-static tests done in Nagoya University during the past several years. The developed models are first used to simulate the pseudo-dynamic test results. Then the models are applied to clarify the seismic behavior of steel bridge piers under the 1995 Hyogoken-nanbu earthquake. It has been found that the earthquake accelerogram recorded in Japan Meteorological Agency during the quake is a tremendously severe wave for short bridge piers or bridge piers with low natural periods.
