Reliability, sustainability, resiliency, and performance investigation of an embedded splice-sleeve connector at high velocity semi-trailer impact

Suman Roy

doi:10.59400/mea.v2i2.1633

Suman Roy Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA

Ariticle ID: 1633

98 Views, 39 PDF Downloads

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/mea.v2i2.1633

Keywords: non-traditional bridge pier; semi-trailer impact; connector; FEM and its validity

Abstract

Presently, dynamic impacts occurrences caused by car crashes have been frequently reported. Statistical results from different articles indicate that vehicle crashworthiness of bridge pier supersedes the other events. However, majority of the published articles focusses on sustainability and finding severity of distressed pier due to impact correlating faster construction methods, like accelerated bridge construction (ABC). This article is an attempt to examine post impacted behavior of a commonly used connector in ABC for resisting short duration shock. Static and dynamic performance analyses of a connector embedded within a coupler system has been examined. A representative ABC pier with the standardized and selected material properties collected from manufacturer’s data has been utilized. Coupler composite materials consisting of a hollow uniform cross-section cast iron cylinder filled up with specified concrete grout conforms higher strength. The performance examination has been conducted by numerical modeling using finite element method (FEM). A commercially used software ANSYS has been utilized for carrying out the simulations. To investigate the post impact dynamic behavior, mesh-independent studies seems inevitable and hence are executed to evaluate dynamic impact factor (DIF). Sensitivity studies are carried out for validating results in precision. The DIF of the main reinforcing tensile steel embedded into the grout placed inside the connector has been determined. Results captured from simulations to identify material properties at plastic stage in sustaining such load have been conducted. The results provide significant information that aids opting for selecting suitable connectors for attaining help the design offices.

References

[1] Hauksson E, Kanamori H, Stock J, et al. Active Pacific North America Plate boundary tectonics as evidenced by seismicity in the oceanic lithosphere offshore Baja California, Mexico. Geophysical Journal International. 2013; 196(3): 1619-1630. doi: 10.1093/gji/ggt467

[2] Thomas RJ, Steel K, Sorensen AD. Reliability analysis of circular reinforced concrete columns subject to sequential vehicular impact and blast loading. Engineering Structures. 2018; 168: 838-851. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.04.099

[3] Feyerabend M. Hard transverse impacts on steel beams and reinforced concrete beams. University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany; 1988.

[4] Sharma H, Gardoni P, Hurlebaus S. Performance‐Based Probabilistic Capacity Models and Fragility Estimates for RC Columns Subject to Vehicle Collision. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure.

[5] Roy S, Unobe I, Sorensen AD. Vehicle-Impact Damage of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers: A State-of-the Art Review. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities. 2021; 35(5): 03121001. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001613

[6] Roy S, Unobe ID, Sorensen AD. Investigation of the performance of grouted couplers in vehicle impacted reinforced concrete ABC bridge piers. Advances in Bridge Engineering. 2022; 3(1). doi: 10.1186/s43251-022-00065-y

[7] Sanders, David H. Evaluation of the Seismic Performance of Circular and Interlocking RC Bridge Columns under Bidirectional Shake Table Loading. In: Proceedings of the 15th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (15WCEE); September 2018.

[8] Pantelides CP, Ameli MJ, Parks JE, Brown DN. Seismic evaluation of grouted splice sleeve connections for precast RC bridge piers in ABC. Utah Department of Transportation; 2014.

[9] Sharma H, Hurlebaus S, Gardoni P. Performance-based response evaluation of reinforced concrete columns subject to vehicle impact. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 2012; 43: 52-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2011.11.007

[10] Kowalsky MJ. Deformation limit states for circular reinforced concrete bridge columns. Journal of Structural Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers. 126(8); 869-878. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2000)126:8(869)

[11] Roy S, Unobe ID, Sorensen A. Damage characterization and resilience optimization of reinforced concrete bridge piers under vehicle impact. Advances in Bridge Engineering. 2022; 3(1). doi: 10.1186/s43251-022-00067-w

[12] Ameli MJ, Brown DN, Parks JE, et al. Seismic Column-to-Footing Connections Using Grouted Splice Sleeves. ACI Structural Journal. 2016; 113(5). doi: 10.14359/51688755.

[13] Jacob GC, Fellers JF, Starbuck JM, et al. Crashworthiness of automotive composite material systems. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 2004; 92(5): 3218-3225. doi: 10.1002/app.20336

[14] Ebrahimpour A, Earles B. Seismic Performance of Columns with Grouted Couplers in Idaho Bridges. IABSE Symposium, Vancouver 2017: Engineering the Future. 2017; 109: 1817-1823. doi: 10.2749/vancouver.2017.1817

[15] Tazarv M, Saiidi MS. Seismic design of bridge columns incorporating mechanical bar splices in plastic hinge regions. Engineering Structures. 2016; 124: 507-520. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.06.041

[16] Zhao X, Wu YF, Leung AY, et al. Plastic Hinge Length in Reinforced Concrete Flexural Members. Procedia Engineering. 2011; 14: 1266-1274. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2011.07.159

[17] Roy S, Sorensen A. Energy Based Model of Vehicle Impacted Reinforced Bridge Piers Accounting for Concrete Contribution to Resilience. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Probabilistic Workshop: IPW 2020. p. 301.

[18] Roy S, Sorensen A. A Reliability Based Crack Propagation Model for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers Subject to Vehicle Impact. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Probabilistic Workshop: IPW 2020. p. 95.

[19] ACI. ACI 318-11: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. American Concrete Institute; 2011.

[20] ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-3433. Available online: https://icc-es.org/report-listing/esr-3433/ (accessed on 2 March 2024).

[21] ICC-ES Report. Available online: https://www.pwcva.gov/assets/2021-05/PA1201Att (accessed on 2 March 2024).

[22] Gray GT. High-Strain-Rate Deformation: Mechanical Behavior and Deformation Substructures Induced. Annual Review of Materials Research. 2012; 42(1): 285-303. doi: 10.1146/annurev-matsci-070511-155034

[23] Chopra AK. Dynamics of Structures, Theory and Applications to Earthquake Engineering. Upper Saddle River: Pearson-Prentice Hall; 2001.

[24] Wikipedia. Speed limits in the United States. Available online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States (accessed on 2 June 2024).

[25] Tavio T, Tata A. Predicting Nonlinear Behavior and Stress-Strain Relationship of Rectangular Confined Reinforced Concrete Columns with ANSYS. Civil Engineering. 2009; 11(1): 23-31.

[26] Malvar LJ. Review of static and dynamic properties of steel reinforcing bars. ACI Materials Journal.

[27] Malvar LJ, Crawford JE. (1998). Dynamic increase factors for steel reinforcing bars. 28th DDESB Seminar.

[28] Buth CE, Brackin MS, Williams WF, Fry GT. Collision Loads on Bridge Piers: Phase 2 Report of Guidelines for Designing Bridge Piers and Abutments for Vehicle Collisions. Austin, Texas. 2011; p. 100.

[29] Cowper GR, Symonds PS. Strain-hardening and strain-rate effects in the impact loading of cantilever beams. Defense Technical Information Center; 1957. doi: 10.21236/ad0144762

[30] AFDC. Vehicle Weight Classes & Categories. Alternative Fuels Data Centre, U.S. Department of Energy; 2018.

[31] Roy S. Sustainability and Resiliency Investigation of Grouted Coupler Embedded in RC ABC Bridge Pier at Vehicle Impact. Engineering and Applied Sciences. 2024; 9(1): 14-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20240901.12

[32] Ameli MJ, Pantelides CP. Seismic analysis of precast concrete bridge columns connected with grouted splice sleeve connectors. Journal of Structural Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers. 2017; 143(2): 4016176. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001678

[33] Andrzej S, Nowak KR, Collins. Reliability of Structures, 2nd ed. CRC Press; 2012.

[34] El-Tawil S, Severino E, Fonseca P. Vehicle collision with bridge piers. Journal of Bridge Engineering. 2005; 10(3): 345-353.

[35] Matos JC, Lourenço PB, Oliveira DV, et al. 18th International Probabilistic Workshop. Springer International Publishing; 2021.