Physical test and numerical simulation study of ice-bridge piers interaction

In cold regions, the formation and movement of ice sheets around bridge piers over reservoirs can pose a significant threat to the safety of the structure by imposing a considerable static ice load. This paper takes the bridge pier frozen in the ice sheet as the research object, carried out the static ice load physical test of the interaction between the ice sheet and the bridge pier, and investigates the structural response under different ice sheet thicknesses, different bridge pier cross-section form, and different displacement rate. Additionally, a numerical simulation method, including cracking, was proposed for comparative verification of the test results. The conclusions of the study are as follows: As the ice sheet thickness increased in the test, the extrusion crushing area of the ice sheet became more extensive, with more cracks and longer extensions, accompanied by the intersection of ring cracks and vertical cracks. In square bridge pier tests, initial cracks in the ice appeared at the corner of the bridge pier on the tension side. In circular bridge pier tests, initial cracks appeared on both sides perpendicular to the forward direction of the pier. The peak loads of the numerical model considering the adfreeze were in good agreement with the physical test results, and the peak loads without considering the adfreeze were in good agreement with the current codes. The model considering the adfreeze had a broader range of cracks, and the cracks extended longer. The peak loads considering the adfreeze are proportional to those without considering the adfreeze, and the proportions differ for circular and square piers. Both the test results and the numerical modelling results show that the ice forces are greater with adfreeze present. Load values calculated from the current code (China 2016) are lower than the measured loads and from the numerical model with adfreeze present. Suggestion factors of 1.64 and 1.48 for circular and square piers respectively are proposed when adfreeze is present.