In this quarterly Research Seminar, Mohamed Moustafa, Ph.D., P.E., Principal Investigator; and Mahmoud Aboukifa, Ph.D. student, present work under the ABC-UTC research project entitled Durable UHPC Columns with High-Strength Steel conducted at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Research Seminar Documents:
Durable UHPC Columns with High-Strength Steel - pdf of presentation
Q&A Session - pdf

Description: This project conducted fundamental research to understand the basic structural and seismic response of UHPC columns with high-strength steel, with the goal of their subsequent use in prefabricated/precast columns. Due to the exceptional mechanical properties of UHPC, compact substructure element cross-sections can be achieved to provide new alternatives for ABC. UHPC can also be used for bridge members with high durability requirements in aggressive environmental conditions. Proper understanding of the structural and seismic behavior of UHPC columns, with both conventional and high strength steel bars under combined axial and lateral loading, can help realize and optimize new bridge column designs using UHPC, which was the main goal of this project. An experimental program was conducted to test four UHPC columns under axial and quasi-static cyclic lateral loading with varied Grade 60 and Grade 100 longitudinal and transverse steel reinforcement. Results and discussions of the tests are presented in this research seminar.

Presenters:

Presentation Graphics:

Figure 1. UHPC columns test matrix

Figure 2. Specimen dimensions

Figure 3. Test setup for UHPC column under combined axial and bending at UNR

Figure 4. Summary of the measured maximum lateral force and drift %