ABSTRACT
The typical column, with an aspect ratio of 1.86, was chosen to be examined experimentally. The main properties of the 1:4 scale model are presented in Figure 1.
The model was subjected to a horizontal cyclic load. The column was loaded up to failure. Although the as-built column included several substandard construction details that could induce the buckling of the longitudinal bars prior to their yielding, the column failed due to the insufficient
Bridges, which were built before the modern principles of the earthquake engineering were established, often comprise construction details that are nowadays considered inappropriate for the seismic regions. The deficiencies are mostly related to the transverse reinforcement in columns, which typically cannot ensure adequate shear strength and confinement of concrete core and cannot prevent the buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement bars.
