Response of shear-deficient reinforced circular RC columns under lateral impact loading

• Published in: International journal of impact engineering Vol. 109; pp. 196 - 213
• Main Authors: Demartino, C., Wu, J.G., Xiao, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; Circular cross-section; Circularity; Columns (structural); Cracks; Crashworthiness; Dynamic response; Earthquake damage; Impact damage; Impact loads; Impact strength; Impact velocity; Impacts tests; Lateral impact loading; Literature reviews; Obsolescence; RC column; Reinforced concrete; Seismic response; Shear; Shear loading; Shear stress; Structural members; Studies; Weakly reinforced; Weakly reinforced; Lateral impact loading; Circular cross-section; RC column; Impacts tests
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2017.06.011
• ISSN: 0734-743X

This paper reports the results of an extensive experimental investigation on the behavior of shear-deficient reinforced circular RC columns under lateral impact loading. First, it provides a brief literature review on studies of the dynamic response induced by vehicle collisions on RC columns highlighting the lack of experimental tests on vertical elements. In this context, a novel facility for testing of vertical elements under lateral impact loading was realized. Two different types of RC columns characterized by different hoop spacing were tested, representing a one-third scaled model of a reinforced circular bridge pier, designed with obsolete design practice with particular reference to non-seismic areas. A total of 10 specimens (5 for each type) were tested under a lateral rigid-hammer impact at different impact velocities (2.25, 3 and 4.5 m/s) and boundary conditions (cantilever and fixed-simply-supported). The impact load was applied at the typical vehicular impact location, i.e. near the base. A description of the impact and reaction forces, of the lateral displacements and accelerations, of the damage development and of the post-impact damage is given. The dynamic response and the observed damage are found to be significantly affected by the column type, the impact velocity and the boundary condition. A brittle shear-type damage was observed, characterized by one main diagonal crack originating from the base of the column to the impact point, revealing the high vulnerability of these structural elements.