Seismic response predictions of multi‐span steel bridges through pushover analysis

In the new trend of seismic design methodology, the static pushover analysis is recommended for simple or regular structures whilst the time‐history analysis is recommended for complex structures. To this end, the applicable range of the pushover analysis has to be clarified. This study aims at investigating the applicability of pushover analysis to multi‐span continuous bridge systems with thin‐walled steel piers. The focus is concentrated on the response demand predictions in longitudinal or transverse directions. The pushover analysis procedure for such structures is firstly summarized and then parametric studies are carried out on bridges with different types of superstructure‐pier bearing connections. The considered parameters, such as piers' stiffness distribution and pier–0.5ptdeck stiffness ratio, are varied to cover both regular and irregular structures. Finally, the relation of the applicability of pushover analysis to different structural formats is demonstrated and a criterion based on the higher modal contribution is proposed to quantitatively specify the applicable range. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A procedure for evaluating seismic energy demand of framed structures

Energy serves as an alternative index to response quantities like force or displacement to include the duration‐related seismic damage effect. A procedure to evaluate the absorbed energy in a multistorey frame from energy spectra was developed. For low‐ to medium‐rise frames, it required a static pushover analysis of the structure to determine the modal yield force and ductility factor of an equivalent single‐degree‐of‐freedom system for the first two modes. The energy spectra were then used to determine the energy contribution of each mode. A procedure was also developed to distribute the energy along the frame height based on energy shapes. This study showed that the second‐mode response in some cases needs to be considered to reflect the energy (or damage) concentration in the upper floors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A modal pushover analysis procedure to estimate seismic demands for unsymmetric‐plan buildings

An Erratum has been published for this article in Earthquake Engng. Struct. Dyn. 2004; 33:1429. Based on structural dynamics theory, the modal pushover analysis (MPA) procedure retains the conceptual simplicity of current procedures with invariant force distribution, now common in structural engineering practice. The MPA procedure for estimating seismic demands is extended to unsymmetric‐plan buildings. In the MPA procedure, the seismic demand due to individual terms in the modal expansion of the effective earthquake forces is determined by non‐linear static analysis using the inertia force distribution for each mode, which for unsymmetric buildings includes two lateral forces and torque at each floor level. These ‘modal’ demands due to the first few terms of the modal expansion are then combined by the CQC rule to obtain an estimate of the total seismic demand for inelastic systems. When applied to elastic systems, the MPA procedure is equivalent to standard response spectrum analysis (RSA). The MPA estimates of seismic demand for torsionally‐stiff and torsionally‐flexible unsymmetric systems are shown to be similarly accurate as they are for the symmetric building; however, the results deteriorate for a torsionally‐similarly‐stiff unsymmetric‐plan system and the ground motion considered because (a) elastic modes are strongly coupled, and (b) roof displacement is underestimated by the CQC modal combination rule (which would also limit accuracy of RSA for linearly elastic systems). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative study of concentrated plasticity models in dynamic analysis of building structures

Concentrated plasticity (CP) models are frequently used in static and dynamic building analysis and have been implemented in available commercial software. This investigation deals with three different CP‐models, a simplified macroelement model (SEM) for a complete building story, a frame element with elasto‐plastic interaction hinges (PH), and a frame element with fiber hinges (FB). The objectives of this work are to evaluate the quality of the earthquake responses predicted by these models and to identify important aspects of their implementation and limitations for their use in dynamic analysis. The three elements are tested in a single‐story asymmetric plan building and in a three‐story steel building. Results show that base shear and global response values are usually computed with better accuracy than interstory deformations and local responses. Besides, the main limitation of elasto‐plastic CP models is to control the displacement offsets that result from perfect elasto‐plastic behavior. On the other hand, calibration of the SEM‐model shows that global responses in steel structures may be computed within 20% error in the mean at a computational cost two orders of magnitude smaller than that of the other CP elements considered. However, the three element models considered lead to increasing levels of accuracy in the dynamic response and their use depends on the refinement of the analysis performed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南海某导管架海洋平台倒塌分析

针对在役老龄导管架平台进行倒塌计算分析,确定极限承载力进而评估老龄导管架的安全裕度。采用非线性有限元方法,考虑平台的波流载荷及桩-土的非线性相互作用,利用SACS软件建立导管架整体三维有限元计算分析模型,并用逐步加载的方式,对南海某导管架平台进行了全过程非线性倒塌分析。计算分析表明,该导管架平台极限强度很高,具有较大的安全裕度;导管架倒塌过程呈逐步破坏形式,先是撑杆屈服,造成局部结构破坏,然后是钢桩发生屈服,降低结构承载力,最后节点逐步失效,造成结构倒塌。揭示了导管架平台结构失效倒塌的机理,给出了倒塌分析的可行方法和步骤。     

Pushover analysis procedure for systems considering SSI effects based on capacity spectrum method

This paper presents a new procedure to transform an SSI system into an equivalent SDOF system using twice equivalence. A pushover analysis procedure based on the capacity spectrum method for buildings with SSI effects （PASSI） is then established based on the equivalent SDOF system, and the modified response spectrum and equivalent capacity spectrum are obtained. Furthermore, the approximate formulas to obtain the dynamic stiffness of foundations are suggested. Three steel buildings with different story heights （3, 9 and 20） including SSI effects are analyzed under two far-field and two near-field historical records and an artificial seismic time history using the two PASSI procedures and the nonlinear response history analysis （NLhRHA） method. The results are compared and discussed. Finally, combined with seismic design response spectrum, the nonlinear seismic response of a 9-story building with SSI effects is analyzed using the PASSI procedures, and its seismic performance is evaluated according to the Chinese ＇Code for Seismic Design of Buildings. The feasibility of the proposed procedure is verified.     

钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震超强系数分析

基于我国建筑抗震规范要求设计的14栋代表不同抗震特征要求的多高层规则钢筋混凝土框架，通过静力弹塑性分析详细地评估了框架结构的体系超强能力。分析中采用与抗震规范等效静力地震作用效应分布模式相同的单调递增侧向荷载，以二维平面框架为分析对象。分析结果表明地震分区对超强系数的影响较大；有填充墙框架比无填充墙框架的超强能力明显要大；内框架的超强能力比外框架的超强能力大；超强系数随框架楼层数的增加而减小。     

An adaptive capacity spectrum method for assessment of bridges subjected to earthquake action

Estimating seismic demands on structures, to predict their performance level with confidence, requires explicit consideration of the structural inelastic behaviour: to this end, the use of nonlinear static procedures is inevitably going to be favoured over complex nonlinear time-history methods. The currently available assessment procedures have been tested predominantly against building frames. A newly derived assessment procedure is proposed within the scope of bridge applications, based on an innovative displacement-based adaptive pushover technique. The procedure, which can be incorporated into a performance-based engineering philosophy, is applicable to MDOF continuous span bridges with flexible or rigid superstructures, and for varying degrees of abutment restraint. As a first application to determine the viability of the proposed procedure, a parametric study is conducted on a ensemble of bridges subjected to earthquake motion. It is shown that, compared to the seismic demand estimated by means of the more accurate nonlinear dynamic analysis tool, the novel static assessment method can lead to the attainment of satisfactory predictions, both in terms of displacement as well as moment demand on members.     

A comparison of single‐run pushover analysis techniques for seismic assessment of bridges

Traditional pushover analysis is performed subjecting the structure to monotonically increasing lateral forces with invariant distribution until a target displacement is reached; both the force distribution and target displacement are hence based on the assumption that the response is controlled by a fundamental mode, that remains unchanged throughout. However, such invariant force distributions cannot account for the redistribution of inertia forces caused by structural yielding and the associated changes in the vibration properties, including the increase of higher‐mode participation. In order to overcome such drawbacks, but still keep the simplicity of using single‐run pushover analysis, as opposed to multiple‐analyses schemes, adaptive pushover techniques have recently been proposed. In order to investigate the effectiveness of such new pushover schemes in assessing bridges subjected to seismic action, so far object of only limited scrutiny, an analytical parametric study, conducted on a suite of continuous multi‐span bridges, is carried out. The study seems to show that, with respect to conventional pushover methods, these novel single‐run approaches can lead to the attainment of improved predictions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inelastic spectra for displacement-based seismic design

In recognition of the emergence of displacement-based seismic design as a potentially more rational approach than force-based techniques, this paper addresses derivation of inelastic displacement spectra and associated topics. A well-constrained earthquake strong-motion dataset is used to derive inelastic displacement spectra, displacement reduction factors and ductility–damping relationships. These are in a format amenable for use in design and assessment of structures with a wide range of response characteristics.