Strut-and-Tie Model Concepts for Seismic Design and Assessment of Concrete Bridge Joints

Abstract

A comprehensive experimental and analytical study on bridge cap beam-to-column concrete joints has been conducted at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) over the past decade. In this study, the improvement of both detailing and the in-plane seismic performance of bridge joints has been examined by representing the force transfer across the joint using simple strut-and-tie models, which evolved into a rational force transfer method for designing and assessing bridge joints subjected to seismic actions. Starting with joint force conditions and failure modes, this methodology is described in this paper. Some specific strut-and-tie details relevant to seismic behaviour of bridge joints are then discussed, followed by several key joint mechanisms and examples of design models to facilitate application of the proposed method.