Experimental Study on the Axial Compression Performance of an Underwater Concrete Pier Strengthened by Self-Stressed Anti-Washout Concrete and Segments

Compared with the conventional drainage strengthening techniques, the precast concrete segment assembly strengthening method (PCSAM) is regarded as a fast, more economical, and traffic-friendly underwater strengthening method for damaged bridge piers and piles, as the drainage procedure can be omitted. However, this method still has some disadvantages, such as strength loss of the filling material, debonding of the interface due to shrinkage of the filling material, poor connection effects, and poor durability of the segment sleeves. To solve these problems, the PCSAM is improved in this study by using self-stressed anti-washout concrete (SSAWC) as the filling material and by developing a lining concrete segment sleeve (LCSS) by referring to the design theory for shield lining segments. Six specimens are designed and prepared with consideration of the influential factors, such as the self-stress, thickness of the filled concrete, and concrete strength of the LCSS, then the monotonic axial compression test is carried out to investigate the improvements in the axial compression properties of the specimens. Accordingly, extended parametric analyses are performed based on the established numerical models. Finally, the calculation formula for the bearing capacity is proposed based on the analysis results. The results indicate that the SSAWC can provide initial confining compressive stress in the core region of the piers, in addition to increasing the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens. The improved LCSS segment connection is more reliable and increases the strengthening efficiency. The influence of self-stress on the bearing capacity of the specimens is cubic and the influence of the filled concrete strength on the bearing capacity of the specimens is nonlinear. The calculation formula for predicting the bearing capacity of axially compressed columns possesses good applicability and can be used as a reference for practical engineering.