Overview of Prefabricated Segmental Pier Column Connection Technology

With the acceleration of urbanization, prefabricated bridges have become a significant choice for transportation infrastructure construction due to their environmental friendliness, efficiency, and reliable quality. However, existing connection technologies still face shortcomings in construction efficiency, seismic performance, and cost control. This paper summarizes the process characteristics of commonly used connection technologies such as socket connections, grouted sleeve connections and corrugated pipe connections, and analyzes their seismic capacity and mechanical performance. In response to existing issues, two new technologies—separated steel connection and multi-chamber steel tube concrete connection—are proposed, and their comprehensive performance and economic efficiency are analyzed. The new connection technologies outperform traditional methods in construction efficiency, economic efficiency, and structural stability, with more reasonable force distribution, clearer load transfer paths, and significantly reduced overall costs. Existing technologies, such as socket connections, perform well in seismic performance but are complex to construct; grouted sleeve connections are mature in technology, but the quality of grouting is difficult to inspect. The separated steel connection and multi-chamber steel tube concrete connection technologies offer significant advantages. With the increasing demands for energy conservation and emission reduction, coupled with the rising labor costs, prefabricated bridge piers are undoubtedly poised to become one of the preferred technologies for bridge construction in China in the future. Therefore, in light of the current research landscape, this paper concludes by offering a forward-looking perspective on the development directions of connection methods for prefabricated bridge piers and identifying key areas for future research.