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Performance assessment of hollow RC bridge column sections with

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DOI: 10.1680/macr.13.00073

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Magazine of Concrete Research
Volume 65 Issue 21
Performance assessment of hollow RC
bridge column sections with reinforcement
Magazine of Concrete Research, 2013, 65(21), 1277–1292
http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/macr.13.00073
Paper 1300073
Received 20/03/2013; revised 25/03/2013; accepted 29/05/2013
Published online ahead of print 18/09/2013

details for material quantity reduction ICE Publishing: All rights reserved
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

Performance assessment of
hollow RC bridge column
sections with reinforcement
details for material quantity
reduction
T.-H. Kim J.-H. Lee
Principal Researcher, Construction Product Technology Research Institute, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yeungnam University,
Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation, Seoul, Korea Gyeongsan, Korea
J.-H. Choi H. M. Shin
Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of Civil Engineering, Yeungnam Professor, School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sungkyunkwan
University, Gyeongsan, Korea University, Suwon, Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge column
sections with reinforcement details for material quantity reduction. Hollow column sections are based on economic
considerations of the cost savings associated with reduced material and design moments compared with increased
construction complexity and hence increased labour costs. The proposed reinforcement details demonstrate economic
feasibility and rationality, and facilitate shorter construction periods. Models of hollow column sections with
reinforcement details for material quantity reduction were tested under quasi-static monotonic loading. The
proposed reinforcement details for material quantity reduction were equal to the existing reinforcement details in
terms of required performance. The computer program RCAHEST (Reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation
system technology) was used for the analysis of RC structures. A modified lateral confining effect model was
adopted for hollow bridge column sections. This study documents the testing of hollow RC bridge column sections
with reinforcement details for material quantity reduction and presents conclusions based on the experimental and
analytical findings. Additional full-scale experimental research is needed to refine and confirm design details,
especially for the actual detailing employed in the field.

Introduction The objectives of this study were to investigate, experimentally

Hollow column sections are based on economic considerations of
the cost savings associated with reduced material and design
moments compared with increased construction complexity, and
hence increased labour costs. They offer the advantages of high
bending and torsional stiffness, reduced substructure weight and
consequent savings in foundation costs. Hollow bridge columns
also allow for maximising the structural efficiency of the
strength–mass and stiffness–mass ratios and reduce the mass
contribution of the column to the seismic response (Lignola,
2006; Taylor et al., 1990). For these reasons, reinforced concrete
(RC) bridge columns with hollow sections are being widely
designed and constructed for highway, high-speed rail and other
bridge columns. However, modern codes of practice (Aashto,
2007; CEN, 2004; MCT, 2010) oriented to new design do not
recognise any specific problems related to hollow sections,
probably due to lack of knowledge (Maekawa et al., 2001; Mo et
al., 2003; Sheikh et al., 2007; Whittaker et al., 1987; Yeh et al.,
2002).
and analytically, the performance of proposed hollow RC bridge
column sections with reinforcement details for material quantity
reduction. The reinforcement details proposed for material quan-
tity reduction were expected to exhibit sufficient ductility and
design strength and were intended to provide a baseline result for
comparison with existing reinforcement details.
A series of tests was performed in which 18 hollow column
section specimens were loaded to failure under pure axial load or
eccentric axial load. Many parameters may influence the overall
hollow section response, such as the reinforcement details, the
shape of the section, the amount of longitudinal and transverse
reinforcement and the material strength of the concrete and the
reinforcement.
An evaluation method is proposed for the performance of hollow
RC bridge column sections with reinforcement details for
material quantity reduction. The proposed method uses the

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Magazine of Concrete Research
Volume 65 Issue 21
non-linear finite-element analysis program, RCAHEST (Rein-
forced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology),
developed by the authors (Kim et al., 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007,
2009). A modified lateral confining effect model was adopted for
hollow bridge column sections. This model was implemented in
RCAHEST and a parameter study was conducted. The results of
the modified lateral confining effect model were incorporated in a
subroutine, called CONMDR, which predicts the overall section
capacity for hollow RC members.
On the basis of the experimental observations and analytical
modelling, design guidelines were developed for hollow RC
bridge column sections with reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction.
Proposed hollow RC bridge column sections
with reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Figure 1 shows the proposed hollow RC bridge column sections
with reinforcement details for material quantity reduction. In the
existing hollow circular section for bridge columns, a number of
layers of longitudinal and transverse steel are placed near both
the outside and inside faces and are tied through the wall
thickness with cross-ties (see Figures 1(a) and 1(d)). Normally, a
(a)
(d)
Figure 1. Proposed reinforcement details for material quantity
reduction: (a) and (b) existing reinforcement details (circular
sections); (c) proposed reinforcement details (circular sections);
(d) and (e) existing reinforcement details (rectangular sections);
(f) proposed reinforcement details (rectangular sections)
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Performance assessment of hollow RC
bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin
1358 bend or full hook should be specified for at least one end of
the cross-tie. These hollow column sections have increased
construction complexity and hence increased labour costs. How-
ever, it is uncertain how these reinforcement details may perform
in hollow section columns since very little research has been
performed in this area and the few studies that are available are
related to circular and rectangular hollow columns with applied
low levels of axial load (Yukawa et al., 1999).
A single layer of reinforcement is used close to the outer face of
the hollow column and the core inside the outer hoop is subjected
to a radial confining pressure (see Figure 2). The transverse steel
placed near the inside face and the cross-ties may not significantly
contribute to the confinement of the concrete wall in the hollow
section (Hoshikuma and Priestley, 2000; Zahn et al., 1990).
In general, the position of the neutral axis at failure is dependent
on design conditions such as the ratio of axial load, the ratios of
longitudinal and transverse steel percentage and the ratio of the
inside to outside diameter (see Figure 3). If the neutral axis
passes through the void at some distance from the inside face of
the section, the column can be expected to fail in a brittle manner
as a result of rapid disintegration of the concrete in the compres-
sion zone and deterioration of flexural strength.
(b) (c)
(e) (f)
Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

Cover concrete
The newly developed reinforcement detail for material quantity
fyh Asp
reduction is a stable triangular structure that combines outside
transverse reinforcement and triangular cross-ties with satisfac-
flc
tory reduction of the inside transverse reinforcement. The details
involve applying a sparsely spaced inner reinforcement in circular
flr Di D⬘ hollow sections in order to control cracking due to environmental
effects (serviceability limit state).

flc
Figures 1(c) and 1(f) show the new design concept of the
fyh Asp
proposed hollow RC bridge column sections with reinforcement
Core concrete details for material quantity reduction. The proposed reinforce-
ment detail has economic feasibility and rationality, and facil-
Figure 2. Radial and hoop stresses of hollow circular sections itates shorter construction periods. This will ensure proper
understanding of structural behaviour and thus help develop a
conservative approach for analysis and design.

Experimental investigation
σ1 σ1
The mechanical properties of the specimens are listed in Table 1
and the geometric details are shown in Figures 4–6. The experi-
NA
mental programme consisted of compression tests to failure of 18
σ2 σ2
σ2 σ2
hollow column section specimens. The specimens were loaded to
induce central or eccentric axial compression. Solid, heavily
Figure 3. Position of neutral axis (NA) reinforced load heads, cast integrally with each specimen, distrib-
uted the load from the test machine to the hollow cross-section.

Specimen Concrete strength: Longitudinal reinforcement Transverse reinforcement

MPa
Yield strength: Ratio Yield strength: Volumetric ratio (compared to
MPa MPa KHBDC (MCT, 2010))

C1000-D13-R 25.1 379 0.012 372 0.0036 (43%)

C1000-D13-L 27.3 379 0.012 372 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D13-N 27.3 379 0.012 372 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D13-T 29.5 379 0.012 372 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D13N-T a 29.5 379 0.012 372 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D16-R 25.1 379 0.012 352 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D16-L 22.1 379 0.012 352 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D16-N 27.3 379 0.012 352 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D16-T 25.1 379 0.012 352 0.0036 (43%)
C1000-D16N-T a 29.5 379 0.012 352 0.0036 (43%)
R150-D13-R 22.8 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13-L 22.8 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13-T 22.8 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13N-T a 22.8 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13-R-E 20.7 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13-L-E 20.7 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13-T-E 20.7 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
R150-D13N-T-E a 20.7 379 0.018 372 0.0084 (100%)
a
Only outer lateral reinforcement

Table 1. Properties of test specimens

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

1990 690
200 1590 200 300 390
20

200 1590 200

200
B B
500 250

20

390
50
690
50
20-D19 D13@72

300
A A
1000

SD300 D16@114/D22@47
SD300/SD400

180
1870

130
D10@36

70
1990

50
D16@57 D13, D16
B B SD300 SD300
250

Front view Elevation view

(a) (b)

200 1590 200 200 1590 200

200

200
390

390
50

50

690
50
690

50
20-D19 D13@72 20-D19 D13@72
300

300
SD300 D16@114/D22@47 SD300 D16@114/D22@47
SD300/SD400 SD300/SD400
180

1870
130

130
1870

180
D10@36 D10@36
70

70
1990 1990
50

50
D16@57 D13, D16 D16@57
SD300 SD300 SD300

(c) (d)

200 1590 200 200 1590 200

200

200
390

390
50

50

690
50
690

50
20-D19 D13@72 20-D19 D13@72
300

300
SD300 D16@114/D22@47 SD300 D16@114/D22@47
SD300/SD400 SD300/SD400
180

1870
130

180
D10@36 1870
70

D10@36

70
50
1990
50

1990
D16@57 D13, D16 D16@57 D13, D16
SD300 SD300 SD300 SD300
(e) (f)

Figure 4. Circular test specimens: (a) geometry of test specimens;

(b) C1000-D13-R/C1000-D16-R; (c) C1000-D13-L/C1000-D16-L;
(d) C1000-D13-N/C1000-D16-N; (e) C1000-D13-T/C1000-D16-T;
(f) C1000-D13N-T/C1000-D16N-T (dimensions in mm)

Four circular specimens with the proposed reinforcement details
were designed for testing under monotonic loading. These speci-
mens are designated C1000-D13-T, C1000-D16-T, C1000-D13N-T
and C1000-D16N-T. Six specimens (C1000-D13-R, C1000-D16-R,
C1000-D13-L, C1000-D16-L, C1000-D13-N and C1000-D16-N)
were designed with existing reinforcement details under monotonic
loading (see Figure 4). The ratio of the height to width for all
specimens was 0.5.
In addition, four rectangular specimens (R150-D13-T, R150-D13-
T-E, R150-D13N-T and R150-D13N-T-E) with the proposed rein-
forcement details were designed for testing under monotonic
loading and four specimens were designed with the existing
reinforcement details under monotonic loading (R150-D13-R,
R150-D13-R-E, R150-D13-L and R150-D13-L-E) (see Figure 5
and Figure 6). The height to width ratio of these specimens was 1.1.
The first character of the specimen name refers to the shape of
the section (circular (C) or rectangular (R)); the second part of
the name represents the diameter of the confining steel (D13 or
D16); the third part indicates configuration type (R, L, N and T,
representing rectangular shape, l-shape, non-cross tie and triang-
ular shape respectively) and the fourth character (if applicable)
represents eccentric loading (E). Those specimens with only outer
lateral reinforcement are indicated in Table 1. Since the aim of
this study was also to investigate the behaviour of hollow cross-
sections, all specimens, excluding one, were loaded at a low
value of eccentricity, typically 1/6 of the cross-section depth.
The spacing of the confining steel conservatively satisfied the
requirement specified in the Korea highway bridge design code
(KHBDC) (MCT, 2010). The neutral axis of the circular speci-
mens with a hollow ratio of 0.80 is located toward the centroid of
the section (where ‘hollow ratio’ is ratio of the inside to outside
diameter of the column section (Di /Do )). Figure 7 shows the
construction sequence for the circular and rectangular specimens.
The specimens were tested using a universal testing machine of
capacity 10 MN (see Figure 8). A thick steel plate was attached
to both the tops and bottoms of the specimens. The axial force
was monotonically increased at 0.01 mm/s until the maximum
force of the specimen was reached.
The axial load–axial strain relationships for a sample of speci-
mens are shown in Figures 9–12, which also show the design
axial strength of the column section and the damage pattern of

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

540 200 540

150
120

B B
360

200
A A
120

B B
6-D19 2-D13 D13 D13@120/D22@47
Front view Elevation view SD300 SD300 SD300 SD300/SD400
(a) (b)
540 540

150 150

200
200

6-D19 2-D13 D13 D13@120/D22@47 7-D19 D13 D13@120/D22@47

SD300 SD300 SD300 SD300/SD400 SD300 SD300 SD300/SD400
(c) (d)
540

150
200

7-D19 D13 D13@120/D22@47

SD300 SD300 SD300/SD400
(e)

Figure 5. Rectangular test specimens: (a) geometry of test

specimens; (b) R150-D13-R; (c) R150-D13-L; (d) R150-D13-T;
(e) R150-D13N-T (dimensions in mm)

710 820
540
820 350 200 160 120 50
540 60
2
0·4
120

107 200 173

B B
40

60

710
360

A A
D13@120/D22@47
7-D19 SD300/SD400
B B SD300
120

D13
53

Front view Elevation view SD300

Figure 6. Eccentric test specimens (dimensions in mm)

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

Figure 7. Construction sequence: (a) reinforcement cage for

circular sections; (b) reinforcement cage for rectangular sections;
(c) mould for circular sections; (d) mould for rectangular sections;
(e) circular specimen after casting; (f) rectangular specimen after
casting

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Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
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Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

10 000

8000

6000

N: kN
4000

2000

0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain
Figure 8. Loading set-up
(a)
10 000

the specimens at failure. The design axial strengths obtained from

8000
the design code (MCT, 2010) are conservative for specimens with
proposed and existing reinforcement details.
6000
Figures 9–12 indicate that the damage to the specimens was
N: kN

spalling of the outer layers of the concrete covers. A few

longitudinal bars were observed to be buckled outward between 4000
the layers of lateral reinforcement after failure. Such buckling of
longitudinal bars is to be expected since the concrete that
surrounds and supports the bars is lost suddenly in explosive 2000
failure. After the maximum state, buckling of the reinforcement
and concrete spalling were observed, and the restoring force
0
decreased rapidly. Two failure modes were observed – concrete
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
crushing and reinforcing bar buckling. Strain
(b)
Table 2 lists the total design axial strength öPn , the nominal axial 10 000
strength Pn and the maximum axial load Pmax of the test
specimens. The strain corresponding to peak load (åPmax ) and on
the softening branch at 85% of ultimate load (å0:85Pmax ) are also 8000
shown (CEN, 2004). Table 2 shows that specimens with the
proposed reinforcement details showed sufficient ductility prior to
6000
their abrupt failure.
N: kN

The normalised axial load–axial strain relationships for circular 4000

specimens and rectangular specimens are shown in Figure 13 and
Figure 14 respectively. The required performance of the proposed
reinforcement details for material quantity reduction was the 2000
same as those for the existing reinforcement details.

Instrumentation included devices for the measurement of load, 0

0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
reinforcement strains and displacements, including the displaced
Strain
shape of the compression face of the section (see Figure 8). (c)
Strain in the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement was meas-
ured by the strain gauges attached at the positions shown in Figure 9. Axial load–axial strain relationship: (a) C1000-D13-L;
Figure 15. Strains in longitudinal reinforcing bars were measured (b) C1000-D13-T; (c) C1000-D13N-T
using electric resistance strain gauges.

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

10 000 3000

8000

2000
6000

N: kN
N: kN

4000
1000

2000

0 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain Strain
(a) (a)
10 000 3000

8000

2000
6000
N: kN

N: kN

4000
1000

2000

0 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain Strain
(b) (b)
10 000 3000

8000

2000
6000
N: kN

N: kN

4000
1000

2000

0 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain Strain
(c) (c)
Figure 10. Axial load–axial strain relationship: (a) C1000-D16-L; Figure 11. Axial load–axial strain relationship: (a) R150-D13-L;
(b) C1000-D16-T; (c) C1000-D16N-T (b) R150-D13-T; (c) R150-D13N-T

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Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

3000 Figures 16 and 17 show the typical measured steel strains in

the transverse reinforcement for specimens. In most cases, the
specimens revealed that the maximum strain in the transverse
reinforcements was lower than the yield strain. Some steel
2000
strains appear to have reached 8000 microstrain. As shown
in the figures, the effect of negative confinement (cracking of
N: kN

C1000-D13-R
1000 C1000-D13-L
C1000-D13-N
1·2 C1000-D13-T
C1000-D13N-T

0 1·0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain
(a) 0·8
3000
Pexp /Pn

0·6

0·4
2000
N: kN

0·2

1000 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain
(a)

C1000-D16-R
0 C1000-D16-L
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 C1000-D16-N
Strain C1000-D16-T
(b) 1·2
C1000-D16N-T
3000

1·0

0·8
2000
Pexp /Pn
N: kN

0·6

1000 0·4

0·2

0 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain Strain
(c) (b)

Figure 12. Eccentric axial load–axial strain relationship: Figure 13. Normalised axial load–axial strain relationship for
(a) R150-D13-L-E; (b) R150-D13-T-E; (c) specimen R150-D13N-T-E circular specimens: (a) C1000-D13 series; (b) C1000-D16 series

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

P max P max
Specimen öP n : kN P n : kN P cr : kN P max : kN åP cr åP max å0:85P max
öP n Pn

C1000-D13-R 4230.4 7554.3 2365.0 7907.3 1.87 1.05 0.0027 0.0092 0.0160
C1000-D13-L 4537.2 8102.2 2470.0 8360.4 1.84 1.03 0.0026 0.0096 0.0141
C1000-D13-N 4537.2 8102.2 5730.0 7205.1 1.59 0.89 0.0051 0.0070 0.0071
C1000-D13-T 4844.1 8650.2 2537.0 8594.0 1.77 0.99 0.0028 0.0106 0.0143
C1000-D13N-T 4844.1 8650.2 3549.0 8917.6 1.84 1.03 0.0030 0.0087 0.0112
C1000-D16-R 4230.4 7554.3 3543.0 7600.0 1.80 1.01 0.0033 0.0087 0.0177
C1000-D16-L 3812.0 6807.1 3595.0 7695.2 2.02 1.13 0.0034 0.0095 0.0133
C1000-D16-N 4537.2 8102.2 3728.0 7171.8 1.58 0.89 0.0030 0.0068 0.0074
C1000-D16-T 4230.4 7554.3 3850.0 7210.1 1.70 0.95 0.0033 0.0076 0.0111
C1000-D16N-T 4844.1 8650.2 3460.0 9317.1 1.92 1.08 0.0027 0.0087 0.0106
R150-D13-R 1568.3 2800.5 2137.0 2656.3 1.69 0.95 0.0048 0.0067 0.0102
R150-D13-L 1568.3 2800.5 664.0 2434.4 1.55 0.87 0.0018 0.0078 0.0095
R150-D13-T 1576.0 2814.3 1561.0 2311.1 1.47 0.82 0.0050 0.0093 0.0147
R150-D13N-T 1576.0 2814.3 858.0 2380.8 1.51 0.85 0.0021 0.0078 0.0096
R150-D13-R-E 1462.3 2611.2 2087.0 2308.0 1.58 0.88 0.0080 0.0095 0.0098
R150-D13-L-E 1462.3 2611.2 2269.0 2362.9 1.62 0.90 0.0091 0.0098 0.0102
R150-D13-T-E 1470.1 2625.1 2079.0 2161.3 1.47 0.82 0.0085 0.0095 0.0104
R150-D13N-T-E 1470.1 2625.1 1800.0 2297.5 1.56 0.88 0.0079 0.0105 0.0113

Table 2. Experimental results

R150-D13-R
R150-D13-L R150-D13-R-E
R150-D13-T R150-D13-L-E
R150-D13N-T 1·0 R150-D13-T-E
1·0
R150-D13N-T-E

0·8 0·8

0·6 0·6
Pexp /Pn
Pexp /Pn

0·4 0·4

0·2 0·2

0 0
0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020 0 0·004 0·008 0·012 0·016 0·020
Strain Strain
(a) (b)
Figure 14. Normalised axial load–axial strain relationship for
rectangular specimens: (a) R150-D13 series; (b) R150-D13-E
series

the inner concrete cover) is diminished because the confining region in between. It was also observed that the presence of
action of the inner transverse reinforcement is transferred by an inner transverse reinforcement does not significantly
the links’ tensile actions towards the outer transverse rein- contribute to the strength and ductility of the confined
forcement, providing improved confinement of the concrete section.

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

20
250
1000
500

625
625

500
500

375
375
250

CT1, CT2, CT3

CLR1, CLR2, CLR3
CLL1, CLL2, CLL3
L1, L2, L3 T1, T2, T3

L4, L5, L6 T4, T5, T6

(a)
120
360

425

425
300

300
175

175
120

540
TS1, S2 150 CLR1, CLR2
200

T1, T2 CT1, CT2

L1, L2 CLL1, CLL2

L3, L4

TL1, TL2
(b)

Figure 15. Instrumentation of the test specimens: (a) circular

section; (b) rectangular section (dimensions in mm):
CT, triangular cross ties; CLR, triangular cross ties (right side);
CLL, triangular cross ties (left-side); L, longitudinal reinforcement;
T, transverse reinforcement (short side); TL, transverse
reinforcement (long side)

Analytical investigation non-linear finite-element analysis program used for analysing RC

Two- or three-dimensional finite-element models for the proposed
hollow RC bridge column sections with reinforcement details for
material quantity reduction were developed. The models were
created and analysed using the general-purpose software RCA-
HEST (Kim et al., 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009), which is a
structures (see Figure 18).
The proposed structural element library RCAHEST is built around
the finite-element analysis program (FEAP) developed by Taylor
(2000). The elements developed for the non-linear finite-element

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Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

10 000 C1000-D16-R R150-D13-R-E

C1000-D16-L R150-D13-L-E
C1000-D16-N R150-D13-T-E
C1000-D16-T 2500 R150-D13N-T-E
8000

6000 2000
N: kN

4000 1500

N: kN
2000 1000

0 500
⫺800 ⫺400 0 400 800
Strain (⫻10⫺6)
(a) 0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
10 000
C1000-D16-R Strain (⫻10⫺6 )
C1000-D16-L (a)
C1000-D16-T
8000 C1000-D16N-T 2500
R150-D13-R-E
R150-D13-L-E
R150-D13-T-E
2000 R150-D13N-T-E
6000
N: kN

4000 1500
N: kN

2000 1000

0 500
⫺10 000 ⫺8000 ⫺6000 ⫺4000 ⫺2000 0 2000
Strain (⫻10⫺6)
(b) 0
⫺2500 ⫺2000 ⫺1500 ⫺1000 ⫺500 0 500
Figure 16. Axial load–strain curves of transverse reinforcement
Strain (⫻10-6)
for circular specimens: (a) T5; (b) CL2 (CLL2) (b)

Figure 17. Axial load–strain curves of transverse reinforcement

analyses of RC bridge columns are a RC plane stress element and
an interface element. Accompanying the present study, the authors
attempted to implement a modified RC shell element and a modified
plane stress element for the hollow RC bridge column sections.
The non-linear material model for the RC comprises models for
concrete and models for the reinforcing bars. Models for concrete
may be divided into models for uncracked concrete and for
cracked concrete. For cracked concrete, three models describe the
behaviour of concrete in the direction normal to the crack plane,
in the direction of the crack plane and in the shear direction at
the crack plane. The basic and widely known model adopted for
crack representation is based on the non-orthogonal fixed-crack
method of the smeared crack concept. The post-yield constitutive
for rectangular specimens: (a) T1; (b) CL1 (CLL1)
law for a reinforcing bar in concrete considers the bond charac-
teristics; the model is bilinear.
In this study, a lateral confining effect model (Cheon et al., 2012)
was adopted and incorporated into the structural element library
for RCAHEST so that it could be used to assess the performance
of the studied hollow RC bridge column sections. This is similar
to the formula suggested by Mander et al. (1988) for the triaxial
stress condition, but the reduced confinement effectiveness coef-
ficient corresponding to the ratios of the inside to outside
diameter of the bridge column section is applied.

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Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

Four-node 2D or 3D
2D or 3D pre-stressed flexibility-based Four-node elastic
spring element concrete shell fibre beam–column shell element
element element

Four-node RC
Joint element FEAP shell element

2D
Reinforcing or RC
Interface elasto-plastic
prestressing plane stress
element plane stress
bar element element
element

Figure 18. RCAHEST non-linear finite-element analysis program

Eight-node RC
plane stress element 12

Four-node RC
48
shell element

(a) (b)

Figure 19. Finite-element mesh for (a) circular sections and

(b) rectangular sections

Details of the non-linear material model used have been presented
elsewhere (Cheon et al., 2012; Kim et al., 2002, 2003, 2005,
2007, 2009). The modelling techniques of the proposed hollow
RC bridge column sections with reinforcement details for materi-
al quantity reduction are described in the following sections.
Figures 19(a) and 19(b) show the finite-element discretisation and
the boundary conditions for circular and rectangular specimens
respectively. The analytical portions of this study focused on
quasi-static monotonic loading of hollow cross-sections. The
analysis was conducted in multiple steps to simulate the actual

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Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

behaviour of the specimen. Loading cycles with load control were Specimen Experiment Analysis Ratio of
applied. P max : kN P max : kN experimental to
analytical results
A comparison of the simulated and experimental axial load–axial
strain values for a sample of specimens is shown in Figure 20. C1000-D13-R 7907.3 8249.1 0.96
The predicted strength was lower than the actual strength. The C1000-D13-L 8360.4 8682.1 0.96
stiffness in the simulation is considerably greater than that found C1000-D13-N 7205.1 7632.6 0.94
in the experiment. In light of this, while considering the C1000-D13-T 8594.0 9213.2 0.93
uncertainty in the boundary conditions and the fact that the C1000-D13N-T 8917.6 7941.0 1.12
hollow column sections had been tested previously, it can be said C1000-D16-R 7600.0 7932.5 0.96
that the analytical prediction concurs well with the experimental C1000-D16-L 7695.2 7330.3 1.05
behaviour. C1000-D16-N 7171.8 7495.3 0.96
C1000-D16-T 7210.1 8075.2 0.89
The values of Pmax for all specimens were similar to the C1000-D16N-T 9317.1 7786.8 1.20
analytical results (Table 3). In predicting the results for the R150-D13-R 2656.3 2657.6 1.00
specimens, the mean ratio of experimental to analytical maximum R150-D13-L 2434.4 2657.6 0.92
strength was 1.04, with at a coefficient of variation (CoV) of R150-D13-T 2311.1 2539.9 0.91
12%. The predictions of the failure modes of all the specimens R150-D13N-T 2380.8 2020.2 1.18
also agree with the experimental results. R150-D13-R-E 2308.0 1980.9 1.17
R150-D13-L-E 2362.9 1980.9 1.19
The proposed confinement model predicts the behaviour of R150-D13-T-E 2161.3 1941.7 1.11
hollow circular section confinement quite well, in particular the R150-D13N-T-E 2297.5 1726.0 1.33
strength increment and the remarkable ductility enhancement. Mean 1.04
The proposed model predictions usually slightly underestimated CoV 0.12
the experimental outcomes, with a scatter of the order of less
than 10%. Table 3. Experimental and analytical results

Nevertheless, the numerical outcomes clearly show that to predict

hollow column behaviour it is crucial to consider concrete cover
spalling and steel reinforcement buckling. The effect of concrete
cover spalling and buckling of bars, key aspects of the proposed
refined methodology, are considered in the non-linear analyses.
These two brittle mechanisms acting together have a significant
effect on the load-carrying capacity and ductility of hollow
column members.
Figures 21 and 22 compare the analytical results for circular
specimens and rectangular specimens respectively. Many para-

3000
10 000

8000

2000
6000
N: kN
N: kN

4000
1000

2000 Experiment Experiment

Analysis Analysis

0 0
0 0·01 0·02 0·03 0·04 0 0·01 0·02 0·03 0·04
Strain Strain
(a) (b)

Figure 20. Comparison of analytical and experimental results:

(a) C1000-D13N-T; (b) R150-D13-T-E

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Magazine of Concrete Research Performance assessment of hollow RC
Volume 65 Issue 21 bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin

10 000 3000

8000

2000
6000
N: kN

N: kN
4000
C1000-D13-R
C1000-D13-L 1000
C1000-D13-N R150-D13-R(L)
2000 C1000-D13-T R150-D13-T
C1000-D13N-T R150-D13N-T

0 0
0 0·04 0·08 0·12 0 0·04 0·08 0·12
Strain Strain
(a) (a)
10 000 3000

8000

2000
6000
N: kN
N: kN

4000
C1000-D16-R 1000
C1000-D16-L
C1000-D16-N R150-D13-R(L)-E
2000 C1000-D16-T R150-D13-T-E
C1000-D16N-T R150-D13N-T-E

0 0
0 0·04 0·08 0·12 0 0·04 0·08 0·12
Strain Strain
(b) (b)

Figure 21. Axial load–axial strain relationship for circular Figure 22. Axial load–axial strain relationship for rectangular
specimens: (a) C1000-D13 series; (b) C1000-D16 series specimens: (a) R150-D13 series; (b) R150-D13-E series

meters (e.g. reinforcement details, shape of the section, the
amount of the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement and
loading type) can influence the overall hollow column section
response. The experimental and analytical results and the
parametric studies confirm that, for hollow column sections
with the proposed reinforcement details, the available strength
and ductility is controlled by the position of the neutral axis at
failure with respect to the inside face of the section (see
Figure 22).
The importance of identifying and evaluating the adequacy of
simulation methods is an important and necessary step in
applying performance-based assessment techniques for assessing
new enhanced-performance systems. Such an assessment can help
to speed the implementation of such systems in current applica-
tions.
Conclusions
This study investigated the performance of hollow RC bridge
column sections with reinforcement details for material quantity
reduction. The proposed reinforcement details were designed
with the aim of achieving a certain degree of strength and
ductility. An analytical model was developed to predict the
behaviour of hollow RC bridge column sections with reinforce-
ment details for material quantity reduction subjected to simul-
taneous axial load.
j An experimental and analytical study was conducted to
quantify performance measures and examine one aspect of
detailing for the developed reinforcement details. The design
concepts and construction methods are promising solutions to
the application of hollow RC bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material quantity reduction.
j It was found that all 18 of the analyses predicted the
experimental failure loads fairly well. A finite-element
solution, incorporating material non-linearities was
performed, and satisfactory comparisons with the
experimental results were obtained. These include both
general criteria for methods of analysis and specific
recommendations for detailing of reinforcement.

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Magazine of Concrete Research
Volume 65 Issue 21
j An innovative confinement model for circular hollow sections
has been modified. The model is able to estimate confinement
effectiveness, which differs in the case of solid and hollow
sections.
j The concurrence between the analytical and experimental
axial load–axial strain relationship was generally sound.
The mean ratio and CoV of experimental-to-analytical
ultimate strength results for the specimens were 1.04 and
12% respectively. Such an assessment tool could help
speed the implementation of developed systems in current
applications.
j Regarding the implementation of full-scale structures, an
investigation of alternative construction details, performance
under cyclic rather than quasi-static monotonic loading and
the development of design procedures and guidelines will be
carried out in the future.
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Performance assessment of hollow RC
bridge column sections with
reinforcement details for material
quantity reduction
Kim, Choi, Lee and Shin
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