This study investigates the seismic performance of new hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers with triangular reinforcement details. The developed triangular reinforcement details are economically feasible and rational, and facilitate shorter construction periods. We tested a model of new hollow RC bridge piers with triangular reinforcement details under a constant axial load and a quasi-static, cyclically reversed horizontal load. We used a computer program, Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology (RCAHEST), for analysis of RC structures. The used numerical method gives a realistic prediction of seismic performance throughout the loading cycles for several hollow pier specimens investigated. As a result, developed triangular reinforcement details for material quantity reduction was equal to existing reinforcement details in terms of required performance.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the behavior characteristics of new hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge pier sections with triangular reinforcement details and to provide the details and reference data. Among the numerous parameters, this study concentrates on the shape of the section, the reinforcement details and the spacing of the transverse reinforcement. Additional eight column section specimens were tested under quasi-static monotonic loading. In this study, the computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), was used. A innovative confining effect model was adopted for new hollow bridge pier sections. This study documents the testing of new hollow RC bridge pier sections with triangular reinforcement details and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of new hollow reinforced concrete (RC) bridge pier sections with triangular reinforcement details. The proposed triangular reinforcement details are economically feasible and rational and facilitate shorter construction periods. A model of pier sections with triangular reinforcement details was tested under quasi-static monotonic loading. As a result, proposed triangular reinforcement details was equal to existing reinforcement details in terms of required performance. In the companion paper, the parametric study for the performance assessment of new hollow RC bridge pier sections with triangular reinforcement details is performed.