Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads

CHEN Hongyu; LI Huawei

doi:10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

Volume 46 Issue 4

Apr. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Explosion And Shock Waves > 2026 > 46(4): 045102

CHEN Hongyu, LI Huawei. Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2026, 46(4): 045102. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

Citation:

CHEN Hongyu, LI Huawei. Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2026, 46(4): 045102. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

CHEN Hongyu, LI Huawei. Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2026, 46(4): 045102. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

Citation:

CHEN Hongyu, LI Huawei. Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2026, 46(4): 045102. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

PDF( 4387 KB)

Damage assessment method of RC piers under lateral impact loads

doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2024-0441

CHEN Hongyu^1
,,
LI Huawei^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Earthquake Engineering Research & Test Center, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Earthquake Resistance, Earthquake Mitigation and Structural Safety, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China

Received Date: 2024-11-11
Rev Recd Date: 2025-06-15

Available Online: 2025-06-16

Publish Date: 2026-04-05

Abstract

Abstract

To investigate the dynamic response and damage assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) piers under lateral impact loads, high-fidelity finite element models of RC piers under lateral impact were developed using the explicit dynamic analysis software LS-DYNA. The finite element models were calibrated by using the test data from lateral impact tests of RC piers. The influences of impact velocity, impact mass, impact location, and axial compression ratio on the dynamic response and damage evolution of RC piers were investigated. Based on the residual load-carrying capacity and residual displacement, the indicators of relative residual deformation and relative residual load-carrying capacity were proposed. The corresponding values of relative residual load-carrying capacity for slight damage, moderate damage, severe damage, and collapse were determined. Moreover, a mapping relationship between relative residual deformation and relative residual load-carrying capacity of RC piers with various axial compression ratios and impacted at different impact locations was established. A damage assessment method for RC piers under impact load was proposed based on the mapping relationship. The research results indicate that RC piers subjected to impact at the mid-column position primarily exhibit flexural-shear failure, whereas local shear failure predominantly occurs when the impact is applied close to the column base. As the impact velocity and mass increase, the residual displacement increases significantly, while the residual bearing capacity decreases. The axial compression ratio within the range from 0.2 to 0.4 has a limited effect on the peak impact force and peak displacement but significantly affects the residual displacement when the impact occurs at the mid-column. When the mid-column position and the column base position are subjected to lateral impact, there exists an approximate linear relationship between relative residual deformation and relative residual load-carrying capacity, such that the greater the relative residual deformation, the smaller the relative residual load-carrying capacity. Under conditions of equal relative residual deformation, the relative residual load-carrying capacity of the base-column impact is lower than that of the mid-column impact, with a more significant decrease in load-carrying capacity.
- bridge engineering,
- damage assessment,
- RC pier,
- lateral impact

FullText(HTML)

References(23)

References

[1]	LIU B, FAN W, GUO W, et al. Experimental investigation and improved FE modeling of axially-loaded circular RC columns under lateral impact loading [J]. Engineering Structures, 2017, 152: 619–642. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.09.009.
[2]	CHEN T L, WU H, FANG Q. Dynamic behaviors of double-column RC bridge subjected to barge impact [J]. Ocean Engineering, 2022, 264: 112444. DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.112444.
[3]	师燕超, 李忠献. 爆炸荷载作用下钢筋混凝土柱的动力响应与破坏模式 [J]. 建筑结构学报, 2008, 29(4): 112–117. DOI: 10.14006/j.jzjgxb.2008.04.017. SHI Y C, LI Z X. Dynamic responses and failure modes of RC columns under blast loading [J]. Journal of Building Structures, 2008, 29(4): 112–117. DOI: 10.14006/j.jzjgxb.2008.04.017.
[4]	张志强. 冲击荷载下钢筋混凝土空心柱力学性能研究 [D]. 阜新: 辽宁工程技术大学, 2023. DOI: 10.27210/d.cnki.glnju.2023.000119.
[5]	赵武超, 钱江. 侧向冲击荷载下钢筋混凝土墩柱的性能 [J]. 工程科学学报, 2019, 41(3): 408–415. DOI: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2019.03.015. ZHAO W C, QIAN J. Performance of reinforced concrete pier columns subjected to lateral impact [J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2019, 41(3): 408–415. DOI: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2019.03.015.
[6]	田力, 朱聪, 王浩, 等. 碰撞冲击荷载作用下钢筋混凝土柱的动态响应及破坏模式 [J]. 工程力学, 2013, 30(2): 150–155. DOI: 10.6052/j.issn.1000-4750.2011.07.0458. TIAN L, ZHU C, WANG H, et al. Dynamic response and failure modes of RC columns under impact [J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2013, 30(2): 150–155. DOI: 10.6052/j.issn.1000-4750.2011.07.0458.
[7]	LI R W, ZHOU D Y, WU H. Experimental and numerical study on impact resistance of RC bridge piers under lateral impact loading [J]. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2020, 109: 104319. DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2019.104319.
[8]	JIN L, ZHANG X, ZHANG R B, et al. Numerical evaluation of impact resistance of concrete columns reinforced with GFRP bars under various axial force ratios and impact velocities [J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 278: 115501. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.115501.
[9]	DEMARTINO C, WU J G, XIAO Y. Response of shear-deficient reinforced circular RC columns under lateral impact loading [J]. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2017, 109: 196–213. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2017.06.011.
[10]	刘艳辉, 朱文凯, 王路明, 等. 轴力对RC柱在横向冲击荷载作用下动力响应的影响 [J]. 安全与环境学报, 2019, 19(4): 1204–1212. DOI: 10.13637/j.issn.1009-6094.2019.04.015. LIU Y H, ZHU W K, WANG L M, et al. Impact of the axial load on the dynamic response of RC column under the lateral impact load [J]. Journal of Safety and Environment, 2019, 19(4): 1204–1212. DOI: 10.13637/j.issn.1009-6094.2019.04.015.
[11]	SUN J M, CHEN H, YI F, et al. Experimental and numerical study on influence of impact mass and velocity on failure mode of RC columns under lateral impact [J]. Engineering Structures, 2024, 314: 118416. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.118416.
[12]	杨孟刚, 万航航, 孟栋梁. 墩顶水平冲击作用后钢筋混凝土桥墩剩余承载力研究 [J]. 中南大学学报(自然科学版), 2023, 54(12): 4793–4805. DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7207.2023.12.017. YANG M G, WAN H H, MENG D L. Research on residual bearing capacity of reinforced concrete bridge piers following horizontal impacts at pier top [J]. Journal of Central South University (Science and Technology), 2023, 54(12): 4793–4805. DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7207.2023.12.017.
[13]	ABDALLAH M, DUA A, HAJILOO H, et al. Dynamic response of RC and CFFT columns under impact loading caused by vehicle collison: numerical simulation [J]. Structures, 2024, 64: 106575. DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.106575.
[14]	陈林, 周戴江, 冯非凡, 等. 侧向冲击与静力加载下小剪跨比RC柱的剪切损伤行为 [J]. 中国公路学报, 2024, 37(5): 221–221. DOI: 10.19721/j.cnki.1001-7372.2024.05.013. CHEN L, ZHOU D J, FENG F F, et al. Shear damage behavior of RC columns with small shear-to-span ratios under lateral impact and static load [J]. China Journal of Highway and Transport, 2024, 37(5): 221–221. DOI: 10.19721/j.cnki.1001-7372.2024.05.013.
[15]	田力, 朱聪. 碰撞冲击荷载作用下钢筋混凝土柱的损伤评估及防护技术 [J]. 工程力学, 2013, 30(9): 144–150,157. DOI: 10.6052/j.issn.1000-4750.2012.05.0341. TIAN L, ZHU C. Damage evaluation and protection technique of RC columns under impulsive load [J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2013, 30(9): 144–150, 157. DOI: 10.6052/j.issn.1000-4750.2012.05.0341.
[16]	ZHAO W C, YE J H. Dynamic behavior and damage assessment of RC columns subjected to lateral soft impact [J]. Engineering Structures, 2022, 251: 113476. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.113476.
[17]	田雪梅, 朱翔, 李文博, 等. 冲击荷载下内配圆形钢管混凝土的方形叠合柱剩余承载力研究 [J]. 建筑结构, 2024, 54(16): 14–24. DOI: 10.19701/j.jzjg.20230992. TIAN X M, ZHU X, LI W B, et al. Study on residual bearing capacity of square concrete-encased circular concrete-filled steel tubes under impact load [J]. Building Structure, 2024, 54(16): 14–24. DOI: 10.19701/j.jzjg.20230992.
[18]	ZHONG H Q, HAO C R, YU Z X, et al. Damage assessment of RC bridge piers under rockfall impact and evaluation of a steel-sand protective structure [J]. Structures, 2023, 47: 607–624. DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2022.11.100.
[19]	ZHOU X W, ZHOU M, LUO D M, et al. Study on the nonlinear response and shear behavior of RC columns under lateral impact [J]. Structures, 2021, 34: 3834–3850. DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2021.09.094.
[20]	匡志平, 陈少群. 混凝土K&C模型材料参数分析与模拟 [J]. 力学季刊, 2015, 36(3): 517–526. DOI: 10.15959/j.cnki.0254-0053.2015.03.019. KUANG Z P, CHEN S Q. Analysis and simulation for the material parameters of K&C concrete model [J]. Chinese Quarterly of Mechanics, 2015, 36(3): 517–526. DOI: 10.15959/j.cnki.0254-0053.2015.03.019.
[21]	HAO Y F, HAO H. Influence of the concrete DIF model on the numerical predictions of RC wall responses to blast loadings [J]. Engineering Structures, 2014, 73: 24–38. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.04.042.
[22]	MALVAR L J. Review of static and dynamic properties of steel reinforcing bars [J]. Materials Journal, 1998, 95(5): 609–616. DOI: 10.14359/403.
[23]	SHI Y C, HAO H, LI Z X. Numerical derivation of pressure–impulse diagrams for prediction of RC column damage to blast loads [J]. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2008, 35(11): 1213–1227. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2007.09.001.