Seismic performance and design of bridge column-to-pile shaft pipe-pin connections in precast and cast-in-place bridges

Hinge or “pin” connections may be used in integral bridges to connect columns to pile shafts to reduce the foundation force demand. Used in combination with prefabricated columns, pins facilitate accelerated bridge construction (ABC). These innovative methods could improve the quality and economy of project compared with conventional construction in seismic regions. This study developed pipe pins that reduce moment transfer between the column and pile shaft under seismic excitations. The pipe pins consist of two steel pipes and a rod that transfer shear and tension while allowing rotation between the column and shaft. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the seismic performance and develop design guidelines of column-to-pile shaft pipe pins for cast-in-place and precast constructions. This research was composed of experimental and analytical studies. The experimental portion of the study consisted of testing of a large-scale bent model subjected to seismic loadings. The test results confirmed that the proposed design method meets the safety and performance requirements of the codes under seismic loadings. The pins maintained structural integrity with minimal damage, while the columns reached the full plastic hinge capacity. The analytical studies consisted of (a) a simple stick model to be used as a design tool, (b) a finite element model (FEM) for global analysis of bridges, and (c) an elaborate FEM to investigate the microscopic performance and interaction of the components. The analytical models were subsequently used in parametric studies.