Description
The combination of digital fabrication technology and pre-stressed segmental column construction holds great promise for the accelerated construction of bridges while optimizing material usage. This study aims to explore this potential by introducing a innovative pre-stressed segmental column system that utilizes permanent formwork made from 3D printed concrete (3DPC) and partially bonded iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) reinforcement for pre-stressing. To evaluate the system's seismic performance, large-scale experiments were conducted on two columns subjected to both gravity and lateral loads. The experimental findings demonstrated that the columns were capable of withstanding lateral drifts of up to 5% without collapsing, and the permanent 3DPC formwork exhibited no signs of premature failure or de-lamination. Additionally, the columns displayed self-centering characteristics, maintaining a residual drift of 1% up to a target drift of 4% when the reinforcement ratio of steel to Fe-SMA rebars was 0.3. These results showcase the potential of the proposed prefabrication concept, which enables the design of bridge columns that are both material-efficient and resilient to seismic actions
