I'm currently designing a multi column pier with a crash wall on a pile supported footing. What is the best way to do this in RC Pier? I thought of two options.
1. Design the pier as if there was no crash wall and apply the collision force to a column. The crash wall would then just get minimum reinforcement.
2. Split the design into two parts. Design the cap and column in Model A with the columns coming down to the top of the crash wall in length. In Model B take the loading from the bottom of the columns in Model A and apply it to the bearings on top of the crash wall. The collision force would be applied at the top of the crash wall. The crash wall would be modeled as a hammerhead pier with the dimension of the crash wall sitting on top of a piles supported footing. The bearings on the crash wall would be located where the columns would connect to the crash wall.
Thanks
Lin Engineering