Full scale pseudo-dynamic test for RC piers retrofitted with LRB

Because only one decade has passed since the seismic design criteria were introduced in Korea, many highway bridges need seismic retrofit to protect themselves from earthquake disaster. Therefore various seismic retrofit methods are considered now. But their effectiveness and validity should be verified through appropriate tests. As an effort for this purpose, this experimental study for the seismic retrofit of the highway discus,sed on the: effectiveness of laminated rubber bearing bridges. Four real scale RC pier specimens were constructed for the test. These RC piers did not have seismic details, Except for one RC pier for the pilot test, three types of bearings such as Pot bearing, Rubber bearing (RB), Lead-rubber bearing (LRB) were applied to the other RC piers respectively. The RC pier with Pot bearing represents current state of the prototype bridge that is not retrofitted seismically. Two RC piers with RB or LRB represent assumed states that the prototype bridge is retrofitted seismically. To simulate dynamic behavior of these RC piers tinder earthquake loads, Pseudo-dynamic test method was used. From the test results, remarkable improvements in seismic behaviours of example bridge were observed due to seismic retrofit utilizing laminated rubber bearings. Therefore, if we apply this seismic retrofit method to the bridges of which bearings arc worn-out and dysfunctional, we can expect enhancement of cost effectiveness in bridge maintenance.