An experimental and theoretical investigation into the seismic performance of steel encased reinforced concrete bridge piles is described. Six test units were designed, constructed and tested
under cyclic lateral displacement-controlled loading. The units had
an outside diameter of 360 mm and a steel casing thickness of 5 mm. Variables included the axial load level, inclusion or exclusion of internal reinforcing cages, and the influence of the casing continuity at he critical flexural sections. Sound seismic performance was observed in all of the models and good agreement between predicted and observed ultimate behaviour was obtained.