Numerical Studies on the Seismic Performances of RC Two-Column Bent Bridges with Self-Centering Energy Dissipation Braces

Bridges may suffer large residual displacements after strong earthquakes. These large residual displacements may increase the reinforcement cost and even lead to the collapse of the bridge. Various self-centering energy dissipation braces (SCEBs) have been proposed to be installed to the frames to reduce the adverse residual displacement, and extensive numerical and experimental investigations have been performed to examine the effectiveness of these devices. However, previous studies mainly focused on the application of the SCEB to the steel frames. Very limited studies investigated the seismic performances of a reinforced concrete (RC) bridge supported by the two-column bents with SCEBs. This paper presents numerical studies on the seismic performances of an RC two-column bent bridge equipped with SCEBs. The hysteretic behavior of the RC two-column bent with an SCEB is firstly modeled and validated by the experimental data. The bent with the SCEB model is then applied to a whole bridge to calculate seismic responses of the bridge. The influences of the key parameters of the SCEB on the seismic responses of the bridge are systematically investigated through parametric studies. This study can provide an insightful basis for the design of RC two-column bent bridges with SCEBs to achieve a desirable seismic performance.