2011 Volume 67 Issue 1 Pages 131-149
The cross-sectional area of reinforced concrete bridge piers and the number of longitudinal reinforcing bars required for bridge piers can be reduced by usin g high-strength reinforcing steel with a yield strength of 685 N/mm2. Reduction in the quantity of materials for bridge pier structures is effective in enhancing constructibility and reducing construction cost because pier foundations can be made smaller. As an example of use of high-strength reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete bridge piers, high-strength blast furnace steel has been used to reinforce tall (about 60 to 120 m) bridge piers made with concrete with a design strength of 50 N/mm2. In this study, verification was made, through a series of structural experiments, with respect to the structural characteristics of concrete piers reinforced with high-strength electric furnace steel. This paper re ports the findings that may help promote the use of high-strength reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete piers.
