Load distribution uniformity of assembled emergency steel bridge pier columns

Throughout the utilization of assembled emergency steel bridge piers, there is a significant discrepancy in the load carried between different columns, which can lead to premature failure of individual columns and potentially trigger the collapse of the entire structure. Currently, there is no mature method for calculating and implementing load distribution. Based on an improved Fourier series and energy principle, this paper proposes a universal calculation method for the load distribution of columns in assembled emergency steel piers. A specific assembled emergency steel pier is selected as the research subject to conduct model tests and simulation experiments. Through mutual verification of theory, experiments, and simulations, this study analyzes the key factors affecting the load distribution of columns, examines the mechanisms and patterns of their impacts, and explores general principles for the even distribution of loads. The research shows: As the column height or diameter-to-thickness ratio increases, the proportion of load borne by the corner columns and transverse edge columns increases, while the central and longitudinal edge columns see a reduction in their load proportions. A pier-beam linear stiffness ratio based on an overall consideration is proposed. As the height of the columns or the diameter-to-thickness ratio increases, the pier-beam linear stiffness ratio tends to decrease. Using the coefficient of variation of column loads as the standard for evaluating the pier-beam linear stiffness ratio, the recommended threshold for the application of the pier-beam linear stiffness ratio in engineering should be between 3 and 3.86.