SEISMIC BEHAVIOR OF PRECAST SELF-CENTERING HAMMER HEAD BRIDGE BENTS

Abstract

Construction of bridges sub-structure using traditional monolithic construction method has been the common strategy till last few decades when precast construction method started to be used in the purpose of accelerating bridge construction. Precast construct method has been successfully used in zones with low seismic action, but still cannot be used safely in zones with moderate to high seismic action due to lack of research on the behavior of this system under high seismic action specially at interfaces between precast elements.