Evaluating the Impact of Knowledge Levels on the Seismic Capacity of Piers Belonging to Existing Bridges

Since ancient times, bridges have been crucial structures in roadway systems as they have consistently facilitated economic and social development. In Italy, most of these bridges were constructed around the 1960s and 1970s, predominantly using reinforced concrete. Thanks to recent studies, it is known that the nominal lifespan of a reinforced concrete structure is approximately 50 years. Therefore, there is a growing need to develop approaches for studying their seismic vulnerability. This study aims to assess the impact of achieving the three different knowledge levels, obtained according to the Italian code, on the seismic capacity of circular cross-section piers, belonging to simply supported Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridges. A large group of piers have been simulated using geometrical and mechanical distributions of the properties typical of existing bridges. Then, the capacity of the pier to sustain seismic actions, expressed with reference to peak ground acceleration (PGAc), is computed by changing the knowledge levels and analyzing their impact on the capacity results.