Definition of Ultimate Limit State and Formulation of Inelastic Behavior of Steel Bridge Pier Bases Designed as RC Structures

Abstract

In the design of the steel bridge piers in Japan, it is requested to check their restoring lateral strength against the strong earthquakes specified by the Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges. The restoring lateral strength of steel bridge piers is mainly governed by the strength of the weakest ones of their column members, pier bases consisting of the anchor bolts, footings and foundations. It is necessary to define the ultimate limit states and formulate the inelastic behavior of these structural components for precisely calculating the restoring lateral strength. In this paper is, therefore, defined the ultimate limit states and formulated the inelastic behavior of steel pier bases subjected to cyclic bending moment keeping axial compression constant by using a pier base model idealized as a RC structure.