Shaking table test of prestressed high-strength concrete pipe piles reinforced with non-prestressed steel reinforcement

Prestressed high-strength concrete piles reinforced with non-prestressed steel reinforcement (PRHC piles) have been developed to improve their seismic performance. In this study, the seismic response and failure mechanism of PRHC piles was investigated using a shaking table test. The dynamic characteristics, dynamic soil pressure, superstructure response, acceleration magnification factors, maximum curvature ductility demand, bending moment response, and failure mode identification of the PRHC piles were determined. The performance of PRHC piles was compared with that of prestressed high-strength concrete pipe (PHC) piles, which showed that the PRHC piles experienced higher energy dissipation and lower maximum curvature ductility demands than PHC piles. In addition, the PRHC piles suffered bending failure at the upper-middle positions, and the plastic zones were higher than those of the PHC piles. The adverse effects of long-period and pulse-type ground motions on pipe piles should be considered in designing for strong seismic events. The addition of non-prestressed reinforcement to a pipe pile allows longer segments of the pipe pile to be involved in providing resistance.