Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20251122003153

Optimized Hybrid Fiber Concrete for Intrinsic Seismic Protection of High-Performance Bridge Piers

Muhammad Aftab Khan ; Civil Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan *
Qaiser Uz Zaman Khan ; Civil Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, Pakistan

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Preventing catastrophic bridge failures necessitates enhanced pier performance. This study investigates Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (HYFRC) as an intrinsic material solution to improve resilience without external retrofitting. A conventional reinforced concrete pier and an optimized HYFRC pier (1:4 scale) were subjected to quasi-static cyclic lateral loading to simulate seismic demand. The HYFRC mix, utilizing a 0.45% blend of steel and polypropylene fibers, exhibited superior mechanical properties, with compressive and tensile strengths surpassing the control by 28% and 49%, respectively. The HYFRC pier exhibited a more ductile post-peak response and improved damage tolerance compared with the control specimen, which also showed ductile behaviour but with faster strength degradation. Quantitatively, the fiber-reinforced model enhanced ductility, recording 4.1% higher cumulative energy dissipation and 3.5% greater post-yield stiffness at 3% drift. These experimental findings were corroborated by SeismoStruct numerical simulations. The fiber-section model accurately captured stiffness degradation and load-deformation responses, with predicted peak loads within 5-10% of test values. Consequently, optimized HYFRC proves from it results that the use of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete enhances post-cracking behaviour, ductility, and damage tolerance of reinforced concrete piers under cyclic loading, compared with conventional concrete.

Keywords

bridge pier; cyclic loading; earthquake resilience; finite element modelling; hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete; seismic performance

Hrčak ID:

353085

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/353085

Publication date:

7.11.2026.

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