The effect of spatially varying earthquake ground motions on the stochastic response of bridges isolated with friction pendulum systems

In this paper, a comprehensive investigation of the effect of spatially varying earthquake ground motions on the stochastic response of bridges isolated with friction pendulum systems is performed. The spatially varying earthquake ground motions are considered with incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The importance of the site-response effect, which arises from the difference in the local soil conditions at different support points of the isolated bridge, is investigated particularly. Mean of maximum and variance response values obtained from the spatially varying earthquake ground motions are compared with those of the specialised cases of the ground motion model. It is shown that site-response component of the spatially varying earthquake ground motion model has important effects on the stochastic response of the isolated bridges. Therefore, to be more realistic in calculating the isolated bridge responses, the spatially varying earthquake ground motions should be incorporated in the analysis.     

Soil–structure interaction analysis of cable-stayed bridges for spatially varying ground motion components

In this study, it is intended to determine the effects of soil–structure interaction (SSI) and spatially varying ground motion on the dynamic characteristics of cable-stayed bridges. For this purpose, ground motion time histories are simulated for spatially varying ground motions, depending on its components of incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The substructure method, which partitions the total soil–structure system into the structural system and the soil system, is used to treat the soil–structure interaction problem. To emphasize the relative importance of the spatial variability effects of earthquake ground motion, bridge responses are determined for the fixed base bridge model, which neglects the soil–structure interaction (no SSI) and for the bridge model including the soil–structure interaction (SSI). This parametric study concerning the relative importance of the soil–structure interaction and spatially varying ground motion shows that these effects should be considered in the dynamic analyses of cable-stayed bridges.     

Stochastic dynamic response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems to spatially varying earthquake ground motions

In this paper, stochastic dynamic responses of dam–reservoir–foundation systems subjected to spatially varying earthquake ground motions are investigated using the displacement-based fluid finite elements. For this purpose, variable-number-node two-dimensional (2D) fluid finite elements based on the Lagrangian approach is programmed in FORTRAN language and incorporated into a computer program SVEM, which is used for stochastic dynamic analysis of solid systems subjected to spatially varying earthquake ground motion. The spatially varying earthquake ground motion model includes incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The incoherence effect is examined by considering the Harichandran and Vanmarcke coherency model. The effect of the wave passage is investigated by using various wave velocities. Homogeneous medium and firm soil types are selected for considering the site-response effect where the foundation supports are constructed. The Sar?yar concrete gravity dam, constructed in Turkey is selected for numerical example. The ground motion is described by filtered white noise and applied to each support point of the 2D finite element model of the dam–reservoir–foundation system. The record of Kocaeli earthquake in 1999 is used in the analyses. Displacements, stresses and hydrodynamic pressures occurring on the upstream face of the dam are calculated for four cases. It is concluded that spatially varying earthquake ground motions have important effects on the stochastic dynamic response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems.     

A COHERENCY MODEL FOR SPATIALLY VARYING GROUND MOTIONS

A theoretical model for the coherency function describing spatial variability of earthquake ground motions is developed. The model consists of three components characterizing three distinct effects of spatial variability, namely, the incoherence effect that arises from scattering of waves in the heterogeneous medium of the ground and their differential superpositioning when arriving from an extended source, the wave-passage effect that arises from difference in the arrival times of waves at different stations, and the site-response effect that arises from difference in the local soil conditions at different stations. Attenuation of waves, which also gives rise to spatial variability, is shown to have little influence on the coherency function. It is shown that the incoherence component of the coherency function is a real-valued, non-negative, decaying function of frequency and interstation distance, whereas the wave-passage and site-response components are complex functions of unit modulus that characterize the phasing of the wave components. A parametric study reveals that the site-response effect can be more significant for short- or medium-span structures situated in regions with rapidly varying local soil conditions, whereas the wave-passage effect can be more significant for long-span, flexible structures.     

Random vibration analysis of long-span structures subjected to spatially varying ground motions

On the basis of the pseudo-excitation method (PEM), a random vibration methodology is formulated for the seismic analysis of multi-supported structures subjected to spatially varying ground motions. The ground motion spatial variability consists of the wave passage, incoherence and site–response effects. Advantages of this method are that less computation effort is required and that the cross-correlations both between normal modes and between excitations are automatically included. Random seismic responses of a realistic long-span bridge due to the wave passage, incoherence and site–response effects are extensively investigated. It is shown that all these effects have significant influence on the seismic response of the structure.     

Simulation of spatially correlated earthquake ground motions for engineering purposes

A new model to simulate spatially correlated earthquake ground motions is developed. In the model, the main factors that characterize three distinct effects of spatial variability, namely, the incoherency effect, the wave-passage effect and the site-response effect, are taken into account, and corresponding terms/parameters are incorporated into the well known model of uniform ground motions. Some of these terms/parameters can be determined by the root operation, and others can be calculated directly. The proposed model is fi rst verif ied theoretically, and examples of ground motion simulations are provided as a further illustration. It is proven that the ensemble expected value and the ensemble auto-/cross-spectral density functions of the simulated ground motions are identical to the target spectral density functions. The proposed model can also be used to simulate other correlated stochastic processes, such as wave and wind loads.     

Local site effects on a high-pier railway bridge under tridirectional spatial excitations: Nonstationary stochastic analysis

This paper presents a theoretical nonstationary stochastic analysis scheme using pseudo-excitation method (PEM) for seismic analysis of long-span structures under tridirectional spatially varying ground motions, based on which the local site effects on structural seismic response are studied for a high-pier railway bridge. An absolute-response-oriented scheme of PEM in nonstationary stochastic analysis of structure under tridirectional spatial seismic motions, in conjunction with the derived mathematical scheme in modeling tridirectional nonstationary spatially correlated ground motions, is proposed to resolve the drawbacks of conventional indirect approach. To apply the proposed theoretical approach readily in stochastic seismic analysis of complex and significant structures, this scheme is implemented and verified in a general finite element platform, and is then applied to a high-pier railway bridge under spatially varying ground motions considering the local site effect and the effect of ground motion nonstationarity. Conclusions are drawn and can be applied in the actual seismic design and analysis of high-pier railway bridges under tridirectional nonstationary multiple excitations.     

地震动的空间变异性对多支承结构的影响

导致地震动空间变异性的原因主要在于：几何不相关性效应、行波效应、局部场地条件效应。利用时程分析的方法分析了单跨框架结构和美国Las Vegas市区内某24跨立交桥的简化模型，对地震动空间变异性三个主要因素的单独影响、综合影响分别进行了系统分析。结果表明地震动的空间变异性改变了一致激励下结构的动力反应，并且引入了一致激励情况所不存在的拟静力反应，对结构的总反应具有很大的影响。与较激励的情况相比，结构的反应可能增大，也可能减小，这依赖于结构上截面位置、场地条件和所采用的地震动时程样本。     

Simulation of spatially varying ground motions including incoherence,wave‐passage and differential site‐response effects

A method is presented for simulating arrays of spatially varying ground motions, incorporating the effects of incoherence, wave passage, and differential site response. Non‐stationarity is accounted for by considering the motions as consisting of stationary segments. Two approaches are developed. In the first, simulated motions are consistent with the power spectral densities of a segmented recorded motion and are characterized by uniform variability at all locations. Uniform variability in the array of ground motions is essential when synthetic motions are used for statistical analysis of the response of multiply‐supported structures. In the second approach, simulated motions are conditioned on the segmented record itself and exhibit increasing variance with distance from the site of the observation. For both approaches, example simulated motions are presented for an existing bridge model employing two alternatives for modeling the local soil response: i) idealizing each soil‐column as a single‐degree‐of‐freedom oscillator, and ii) employing the theory of vertical wave propagation in a single soil layer over bedrock. The selection of parameters in the simulation procedure and their effects on the characteristics of the generated motions are discussed. The method is validated by comparing statistical characteristics of the synthetic motions with target theoretical models. Response spectra of the simulated motions at each support are also examined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of ‘equal displacement’ rule for bridges subjected to differential support motions

The ‘equal displacement’ rule is employed in seismic design practice to predict inelastic displacements from analyses of the corresponding linear elastic structural models. The accuracy and limitations of this rule have been investigated for ordinary structures but not for bridges subjected to spatially varying ground motions. The present study investigates this rule for moderate levels of inelastic behavior for four highway bridges in California accounting for the effects of spatial variability of the support motions due to incoherence, wave passage and differential site response. The bridge models vary significantly as to their fundamental periods and their overall configurations. Statistical analyses of pier‐drift responses are performed using as input simulated arrays of nonstationary ground motions in accordance with prescribed coherency models. It is found that the ‘equal displacement’ rule is fairly accurate for cases when the fundamental period of the bridge is longer than the transition period between the acceleration‐controlled and velocity‐controlled ranges of the response spectrum. Otherwise, the rule is non‐conservative for cases with large ductility factors and conservative for cases with small ductility factors. Wave passage and incoherence tend to reduce ratios of mean peak inelastic to elastic pier drifts, whereas incorporation of the differential site‐response effect by locating piers on softer soils tends to increase the same ratios. Mild or moderate positive correlation between these ratios and ductility demands is observed in most cases. Effects of spatial variability are more pronounced for longer and stiffer bridges. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ground motion spatial variability effects on seismic response control of cable-stayed bridges

The spatial variability of input ground motion at supporting foundations plays a key role in the structural response of cable-stayed bridges (CSBs); therefore, spatial variation effects should be included in the analysis and design of effective vibration control systems. The control of CSBs represents a challenging and unique problem, with many complexities in modeling, control design and implementation, since the control system should be designed not only to mitigate the dynamic component of the structural response but also to counteract the effects of the pseudo-static component of the response. The spatial variability effects on the feasibility and efficiency of seismic control systems for the vibration control of CSBs are investigated in this paper. The assumption of uniform earthquake motion along the entire bridge may result in quantitative and qualitative differences in seismic response as compared with those produced by uniform motion at all supports. A systematic comparison of passive and active system performance in reducing the structural responses is performed, focusing on the effect of the spatially varying earthquake ground motion on the seismic response of a benchmark CSB model with different control strategies, and demonstrates the importance of accounting for the spatial variability of excitations.     

Experimental investigation of spatially varying effect of ground motions on bridge pounding

Pounding between adjacent bridge structures with insufficient separation distance has been identified as one of the primary causes of damage in many major earthquakes. It takes place because the closing relative movement is larger than the structural gap provided between the structures. This relative structural response is controlled not only by the dynamic properties of the participating structures but also by the characteristics of the ground excitations. The consequence of the spatial variation of ground motions has been studied by researchers; however, most of these studies were performed numerically. The objective of the present research is to experimentally evaluate the influence of spatial variation of ground motions on the pounding behaviour of three adjacent bridge segments. The investigation is performed using three shake tables. The input spatially varying ground excitations are simulated based on the New Zealand design spectra for soft soil, shallow soil and strong rock using an empirical coherency loss function. Results confirm that the spatially nonniform ground motions increase the relative displacement of adjacent bridge girders and pounding forces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of spatially correlated,site-reflected,and nonstationary ground motions compatible with response spectrum

Seismic risk analysis and mitigation of spatially extended structures require the synthesis of spatially varying ground motions in the response history analysis of these structures. These synthetic motions are usually desired to be spatially correlated, site reflected, nonstationary, and compatible with target design response spectra. In this paper, a method is presented for simulating spatially varying ground motions considering the nonstationarity, local site effects, and compatibility of response spectra. The scheme for generating spatially varying and response spectra compatible ground motions is first established for spatial locations on the ground surface with varying site conditions. The design response spectrum is introduced as the “power” spectrum at the base rock. The site amplification approach is then derived based on the deterministic wave propagation theory, by assuming that the base rock motions consist of out-of-plane SH wave or in-plane combined P and SV waves propagating into the site with assumed incident angles, from which tri-directional spatial ground motions can be generated. The phase difference spectrum is employed to model ground motions exhibiting nonstationarity in both frequency and time domains with different site conditions. The proposed scheme is demonstrated with numerical examples.     

Effects of spatially variable ground motions on the seismic response of a skewed, multi-span, RC highway bridge

This paper presents a study of the influence of spatially variable ground motions on the longitudinal seismic response of a short, three-span, 30-degree skewed, reinforced concrete highway bridge. Linear and nonlinear finite element models are created for the bridge and linear elastic and nonlinear inelastic time history analyses conducted. Three different types of illustrative excitations are considered: The first utilizes spatially variable ground motions incorporating the effects of variable soil conditions, loss of coherency and wave passage as input motions at the structures' supports. The time history with the smallest peak displacement and the one with the largest peak displacement from the spatially variable ones are then used as uniform input motions at all bridge supports. The comparative analysis of the bridge model shows that the uniform ground motion input with the largest peak displacement cannot provide conservative seismic demands for all structural components—in a number of cases it results in lower response than that predicted by spatially variable motions. The present results indicate that there is difficulty in establishing uniform input motions that would have the same effect on the response of bridge models as spatially variable ones. Consequently, spatially variable input motions need to be applied as excitations at the bridge supports.     

Site dependent and spatially varying response spectra

The goal of this study is to provide a stochastic method to investigate the effects of the randomness of soil properties due to their natural spatial variability on the response spectra spatial variation at sites with varying conditions. For this purpose, Monte Carlo Simulations are used to include the variability of both incident ground motion and soil parameters in the response spectra by mean of an appropriate coherency loss function and a site-dependent transfer function, respectively. The approach is built on the assumption of vertical propagation of SH type waves in soil strata with uncertain parameters. The response spectra are obtained by numerical integration of the governing equation of a single-degree-of-freedom(SDOF) system under non-stationary site-dependent and spatially varying ground motion accelerations simulated with non-uniform spectral densities and coherency loss functions. Numerical examples showed that randomness of soil properties significantly affects the amplitudes of the response spectra, indicating that as the heterogeneity induced by the randomness of the parameters of the medium increases, the spectral ordinates attenuate.     

Extended MSRS rule for seismic analysis of bridges subjected to differential support motions

This paper introduces a generalized formulation of the multiple support response spectrum (MSRS) method (Earthquake Engng Struct. Dyn. 1992; 21 :713–740) and extends it by accounting for the quasi‐static contributions of truncated modes. The generalized formulation allows consideration of response quantities that involve support degrees of freedom (DOF). This situation arises for many response quantities of interest when rotational DOF are condensed out. New cross‐correlation coefficients are introduced in the extended rule and a parametric study is performed to gain insight and identify cases of ground motion spatial variability in which these terms are significant. An efficient computer implementation of the extended MSRS method is described and used for comprehensive analysis of two real bridge models with vastly different structural characteristics. The specified input is in accordance with standards used in engineering practice. The effects of differential support motions, including the influence of spatially varying soil conditions, on the pseudo‐static and dynamic components and the total response are examined and the improvement achieved with the extended MSRS method is assessed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地震动空间变异性对千米级斜拉桥结构随机地震反应的影响

基于随机振动理论,以苏通长江公路大桥为背景,对超大跨度斜拉桥在随机地震荷载作用下的动力响应展开研究,详细分析地震动空间变化特性对千米级斜拉桥结构动力响应的影响.研究结果表明:相干效应对主梁纵向弯矩影响比较大,尤其是中跨部位;而局部场地效应相对影响较小.对于主梁轴力而言,行波效应影响较为显著,主梁轴力的最大值增大约70%之多,但对竖向剪力并无突出影响.与一致激励比较,行波效应使得跨中竖向位移均方根增大约74%,相干效应为60%,而局部场地效应为13%.对于不同的内力和位移响应,地震动空间变化特性的影响程度和规律不尽相同,必须区别对待,具体问题具体分析.     

考虑地震动局部场地效应的大跨度斜拉桥随机地震响应分析

基于随机振动理论,以苏通长江公路大桥为例,研究了局部场地效应对大跨度斜拉桥地震反应的影响。结果表明:与一致激励相比,局部场地效应对结构的内力和位移影响显著;场地效应对主梁、索塔内力和位移的影响程度及规律也不尽相同,须区别对待分析。     

A parametric study of the required seating length for bridge decks during earthquake

During the recent major earthquakes, some bridges suffered severe damage due to the pull-off-and-drop collapse of their decks. This is due to the large differential movements of the adjacent spans of bridges during strong shaking compared to the seating lengths provided. The differential movements are primarily due to the different vibration properties of adjacent spans and non-uniform ground excitations at the bridge supports. This paper analyses the effects of various bridge and ground motion parameters on the required seating lengths for bridge decks to prevent the pull-off-and-drop collapse. The random vibration method is used in the analysis. A two-span bridge model with different span lengths and vibration frequencies and subjected to various spatially varying ground excitations is analysed. Non-uniform spatial ground motions are modelled by the filtered Tajimi–Kanai power spectral density function and an empirical coherency function. Ground motions with different intensities, different cross-correlations and different site conditions are considered in the study. The required seating lengths for bridge decks are calculated. Numerical results are presented and discussed with respect to different bridge vibration and ground motion properties. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.