Investigating the effect of bond-slip on the nonlinear response of RC bridge piers

This article discusses the importance of including the effect of the bond -slip in the study of the non-linear behaviour of RC bridge piers.. The sensitivity of the nonlinear response to the bond -slip was studied by considering a multifiber FE model. Pushover analyses (cyclical and monotonic) were conducted and the results were discussed considering different seismic performance indicators. The importance of this phenomenon was also demonstrated by quantifying the different damage limit states and its contribution to the total displacement of the bridge pier. The results indicate that the introduction of the effect of the bond -slip can significantly modify the predictions of the non-linear behaviour of RC bridge piers where an overestimation of the stiffness initial and dissipation energy of the bridge piers were observed. Therefore, taking this phenomenon into account in the nonlinear modelling of RC columns is essential.