A novel dynamic analytical method for seismic response of rocking steel piers

The prestressed self-centering rocking steel pier equipped with external energy-dissipating devices exhibits superior seismic and economic performance. This study develops a predictive model for the height of the compression zone at the pier bottom, based on the existing static analytical framework of the rocking steel piers subjected to horizontal cyclic loading. Additionally, by integrating the dynamics Lagrange’s equation and Kelvin-Voigt impact model, this paper proposes a novel dynamic analytical method for the rocking steel pier structural system. This approach accounts for the elastic bending deformation before rocking, the collision energy dissipation within the compression zone and plastic deformation at the pier bottom under horizontal ground motions. Comparisons with the results from dynamic refined finite-element models reveal that the proposed dynamic analytical model can yields highly accurate peak displacement response, relative to the traditional rigid body model and the VHCZ model. Further, the analytical method can accurately capture the maximum displacement responses of the rocking steel pier in the shaking table test. The proposed model provides a concise and accurate analytical solution of seismic response and deeply understands the dynamic characteristics of the rocking steel pier.