Rebar Replacement in Severely Damaged RC Bridge Column Plastic Hinges: Design Criteria and Experimental Investigation

This paper presents a procedure for rehabilitating plastic hinges with damaged/fractured weldable longitudinal rebars in severely damaged reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns and possible improvements regarding connection protection hinge development. Damaged/fractured are replaced new rebar segments, the basis of this approach involves connecting intermediate machined parts to original by welding an off-the-shelf steel equal angle. The proposed rehabilitation design is based on capacity principles, equations that define geometries required ductility, it validated experimentally three 1∶6-scale RC circular column specimens. Compared columns, ductility rehabilitated increased from 39% 58%, energy dissipation (equivalent viscous damping ratio) approximately 50% 250%. base shears were smaller than those owing reduction area; thus, shear failure was avoided, demand foundation reduced. procedure, adopting easily performed site concentrates damage promises be quick, simple, reliable, effective means improve without using mechanical couplers or changing dimensions.