Implications of seismic pounding on the longitudinal response of multi-span bridges-an analytical perspective

Seismic pounding between adjacent frames in multiple-frame bridges and girder ends in multi-span simply supported bridges has been commonly observed in several recent earthquakes. The consequences of pounding include damage to piers, abutments, shear keys, bearings and restrainers, and possible collapse of deck spans. This paper investigates pounding in bridges from an analytical perspective. A simplified nonlinear model of a multiple-frame bridge is developed including the effects of inelastic frame action and nonlinear hinge behavior, to study the seismic response to longitudinal ground motion. Pounding is implemented using the contact force-based Kelvin model, as well as the momentum-based stereomechanical approach, Parameter studies are conducted to determine the effects of frame period ratio, column hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation during impact and near source ground motions on the pounding response of the bridge. The results indicate that pounding is most critical for highly out-of-phase frames and is not significant for frame period ratios greater than 0.7. Impact models without energy dissipation overestimate the displacement and acceleration amplifications due to impact, especially for elastic behavior of the frames. Representation of stiffness degradation in bridge columns is essential in capturing the accurate response of pounding frames subjected to far field ground motion. Finally, it is shown that strength degradation and pounding can result in significant damage to the stiffer frames of the bridge when subjected to large acceleration pulses from near field ground motion records.     

Implications of seismic pounding on the longitudinal response of multi-span bridges - an analytical perspective

Seismic pounding between adjacent frames in multiple-frame bridges and girder ends in multi-span simply supported bridges has been commonly observed in several recent earthquakes. The consequences of pounding include damage to piers, abutments, shear keys, bearings and restrainers, and possible collapse of deck spans. This paper investigates pounding in bridges from an analytical perspective. A simplified nonlinear model of a multiple-frame bridge is developed including the effects of inelastic frame action and nonlinear hinge behavior, to study the seismic response to longitudinal ground motion. Pounding is implemented using the contact force-based Kelvin model, as well as the momentum-based stereomechanical approach. Parameter studies are conducted to determine the effects of frame period ratio, column hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation during impact and near source ground motions on the pounding response of the bridge. The results indicate that pounding is most critical for highly out-of-phase frames and is not significant for frame period ratios greater than 0.7. Impact models without energy dissipation overestimate the displacement and acceleration amplifications due to impact, especially for elastic behavior of the frames. Representation of stiffness degradation in bridge columns is cssential in capturing the accurate response of pounding frames subjected to far field ground motion. Finally, it is shown that strength degradation and pounding can result in significant damage to the stiffer frames of the bridge when subjected to large acceleration pulses from near field ground motion records.     

RC jacketing parameters to retrofit highway bridges

Highway bridges are essential structures in the transportation system of any country in the world. Many highway bridges are reinforced concrete (RC) bridges that were constructed before the 1980s, prior to current seismic regulation codes. The continuous modification of regulation codes makes it necessary to evaluate structures, and in many cases, existing bridges require interventions to increase their seismic capacity. Among the different techniques used to improve bridge capacity, encasing the columns with RC jackets increases the strength and stiffness of the substructure. RC jacketing increases the column cross sections, improves the seismic capacity and reduces the seismic vulnerability of the bridge substructures. This work presents a parametric study to assess the expected demands of seismically deficient medium length highway bridges retrofitted with RC jacketing aimed at determining the best jacket parameters. A suite of twenty strong ground motions, recorded from a subduction seismic source close to the Pacific Coast in Mexico, was selected to characterize the seismic demand. The bridge superstructures are simply supported with five 30 m long spans for a total length of 150 m. The bridge models have five possible pier heights of 5, 10, 15 20 and 25 m and three different jacket thicknesses and steel ratios. Pushover analyses and capacity spectra of the family of accelerograms allow for the determination of the pier demands by obtaining the performance point as the intersection of the capacity and demand curves. The results allow for the determination of the influence of each parameter on the expected seismic behavior of the bridge models, with the aim of selecting the most suitable jacket characteristics to improve the seismic bridge performance.     

近断层地震动下设置BRB的双向减隔震桥梁地震反应

在近断层地震动下桥梁结构将发生较大反应,减隔震设计是减轻地震损伤的重要手段。提出了在桥梁双柱墩横桥向设置防屈曲支撑(BRB),在纵桥向设置铅芯橡胶支座(LRB)的双向减隔震体系。利用Midas Civil软件建立3种不同减隔震方式的桥梁结构模型:LRB仅单向,LRB双向与LRB联合BRB,运用非线性时程分析方法计算了桥墩反应(墩顶侧移角、残余位移角和曲率延性)、LRB支座变形和BRB的耗能特性等。结果表明:在近断层地震动输入下联合设置LRB和BRB的双向减隔震桥梁减震效果明显,相比其它2种方式,能有效降低墩柱的塑性变形及起到保护桥墩的作用。在横桥向,桥墩最大侧移角、残余位移角和最大曲率延性系数都显著降低。     

高烈度区大跨刚构-连续梁桥地震响应分析

为研究大跨刚构-连续梁桥在高烈度地区的地震响应,选取羊记沟左线大桥为工程背景,利用Midas软件建立多个有限元模型,考虑纵、横桥向的水平地震波输入,比较反应谱与时程分析结果,获得结构动力响应特点,为大跨刚构-连续梁桥的抗震设计提供参考依据。结果表明:刚构-连续体系仅单墩刚构时不宜采用反应谱分析,高烈度地区桥梁进行地震响应时程分析时,选用与场地适应的地震波的同时,应考虑采用本地地震参数转化人工波作为地震激励源。桥墩不等高时,可通过改变墩截面形状及其与主梁连接方式调节内力分布,避免矮墩刚度大导致的内力集中。     

钢筋混凝土圆形截面柱式桥墩抗震性能评价

对4座典型的钢筋混凝土圆形截面双柱式桥墩，利用Priestley等建议的钢筋混凝土桥墩抗剪强度计算方法和型态描述方程，结合Rush-over方法进行了延性抗震能力评价。一般说来，纵桥向能够满足延性抗震要求，而横桥向一些配箍率较低的桥墩在地震中会发生脆性的弯剪破坏，其底部塑性铰将形成在柱基之中，部分桩基可能会遭受损害。     

Analytical investigation of bidirectional ductile diaphragms in multi-span bridges

In the AASHTO Guide Specifications for Seismic Bridge Design Provisions,ductile diaphragms are identified as Permissible Earthquake-Resisting Elements(EREs),designed to help resist seismic loads applied in the transverse direction of bridges.When adding longitudinal ductile diaphragms,a bidirectional ductile diaphragm system is created that can address seismic excitations acting along both the bridge’s longitudinal and transverse axes.This paper investigates bidirectional ductile diaphragms with Buckling Restrained Braces(BRBs)in straight multi-span bridge with simply supported floating spans.The flexibility of the substructures in the transverse and longitudinal direction of the bridge is considered.Design procedures for the bidirectional ductile diaphragms are first proposed.An analytical model of the example bridge with bidirectional ductile diaphragms,designed based on the proposed methodology,is then built in SAP2000.Pushover and nonlinear time history analyses are performed on the bridge model,and corresponding results are presented.The effect of changing the longitudinal stiffness of the bidirectional ductile diaphragms in the end spans connecting to the abutment is also investigated,in order to better understand the impact on the bridge’s dynamic performance.     

Shake table experimental study of cable-stayed bridges with two different design strategies of H-shaped towers

As one of the main load-carrying components of cable-stayed bridges,bridge towers are typically required to remain elastic even when subjected to severe ground motions with a 2%-3%probability of exceedance in 50 years.To fulfill this special requirement imposed by current seismic design codes,reinforcement ratios in the bridge towers have to be kept significantly higher than if limited ductility behavior of the tower is allowed.In addition,since the foundation capacity is closely related to the moment and shear capacities of the bridge tower,a large increase in bridge construction cost for elastically designed cable-stayed bridge is inevitable.To further investigate the possibility of limited ductility bridge tower design strategies,a new 1/20-scale cable-stayed bridge model with H-shaped bridge towers designed according to strong strut-weak tower column design was tested.The shake table experimental results are compared with a previous strong tower column-weak strut designed full bridge model.A comparison of the results show that ductility design with plastic hinges located on tower columns,i.e.,strong strut-weak tower column design,is another effective seismic design strategy that results in only small residual displacement at the top of the tower column,even under very severe earthquake excitations.     

Steel rings as seismic fuses for enhancing ductility of cross braced frames

A new remedy is proposed in this study to increase the ductility of cross-braced frames to a level comparable with ductile moment frames. The suggested system consists of one or two concentric steel rings installed in the cross-braced bay vertically. The steel rings are designed such that they fail in bending sooner than failure of the braces in compression. Then the rings act as seismic fuses with multiple bending plastic hinges. Using nonlinear static analysis, it is shown that the proposed system can be designed to behave like cross-braced frames with regard to stiffness and strength, and like special moment frames with regard to ductility. Seismic design factors for the proposed system are recommended based on nonlinear pushover and cyclic analysis studies.

     

Experimental study of hollow rectangular bridge column performance under vertical and cyclically bilateral loads

To investigate the seismic performance of hollow reinforced concrete(RC) bridge columns of rectangular cross section under constant axial load and cyclically biaxial bending,five specimens were tested.A parametric study is carried out for different axial load ratios,longitudinal reinforcement ratios and lateral reinforcement ratios.The experimental results showed that all tested specimens failed in the flexural failure mode and their ultimate performance was dominated by flexural capacity,which is represented by the rupture/buckling of tensile longitudinal rebars at the bottom of the bridge columns.Biaxial force and displacement hysteresis loops showed significant stiffness and strength degradations,and the pinching effect and coupling interaction effect of both directions severely decrease the structural seismic resistance.However,the measured ductility coefficient varying from 3.5 to 5.7 and the equivalent viscous damping ratio varying from 0.19 and 0.26 can meet the requirements of the seismic design.The hollow RC rectangular bridge columns with configurations of lateral reinforcement in this study have excellent performance under bidirectional earthquake excitations,and may be considered as a substitute for current hollow RC rectangular section configurations described in the Guideline for Seismic Design of Highway Bridges(JTG/T B02-01-2008).The length of the plastic hinge region was found to approach one sixth of the hollow RC rectangular bridge column height for all specimen columns,and it was much less than those specified in the current JTG/T.Thus,the length of the plastic hinge region is more concentrated for RC rectangular hollow bridge columns.     

施工缝对框架结构抗震性能影响的数值分析

为研究施工缝对框架结构抗震性能的影响,利用提出的施工缝模型,基于OPENSEES平台建模进行静力非线性分析和非线性动力时程分析。通过对比整浇框架与带缝框架的顶点最大位移、层间位移角、塑性铰出现和分布规律等明确施工缝对框架结构的抗震性能的影响程度。结果表明,施工缝使框架结构的变形和层间位移角显著增大,并且使8、9度区框架结构的层间位移角分布发生改变;施工缝使柱端更易出现塑性铰,更易发生"强梁弱柱"的破坏模式;在高烈度区,施工缝的影响比较显著,如果忽略其影响,将会高估框架结构的抗震性能。     

强柱系数基于结构易损性的抗震性能评估

增大柱端抗弯承载力是抗震"能力设计"措施中引导钢筋混凝土框架结构形成梁铰型有利耗能机构的关键措施。本文以6层确定性钢筋混凝土框架结构为分析对象,通过结构易损性分析评估了不同强柱系数取值对钢筋混凝土框架结构抗震性能的影响。结构易损性分析表明增大柱端抗弯承载力是改善结构抗震性能的有效措施,增大强柱系数提高了结构的变形能力,使不同破坏极限状态之间形成较大的"梯度",对防止强烈地震作用下结构的突然倒塌提供了预示。结构易损性曲线对评估结构抗震性能、选用合适的目标强柱系数提供了量化标准。     

减隔震桥梁设计方法及抗震性能研究综述

桥梁作为交通系统中的生命线工程,其抗震性能问题尤为重要。桥梁减隔震技术主要通过减隔震装置来降低结构的地震损伤,目前已发展成为提高强震区桥梁抗震能力的重要措施。为促进减隔震技术在中国桥梁工程领域的进一步发展,首先总结减隔震桥梁的设计方法,归纳其地震反应和震害情况,对采用不同减隔震装置桥梁的非线性动力性能、减隔震效果、地震随机响应、易损性及性能优化方法等研究情况进行梳理;其次,概述减隔震技术在斜交桥、曲线桥及铁路桥梁中的应用情况与研究进展,并介绍新型韧性抗震设计理念在桥梁工程领域中的应用情况和发展前景;最后,总结减隔震桥梁的试验研究情况,指出目前减隔震桥梁研究中的不足和发展趋势。     

An investigation of the seismic behavior of a deck-type reinforced concrete arch bridge

This paper attempts to explore potential benefits of form in a deck-type reinforced concrete (RC) arch bridge in connection with its overall seismic behavior and performance. Through a detailed three-dimensional finite element modeling and analysis of an actual existing deck-type RC arch bridge, some useful quantitative information have been derived that may serve for a better understanding of the seismic behavior of such arch bridges. A series of the nonlinear dynamic analyses has been carried out under the action of seven different time histories of ground motion scaled to the AASHTO 2012 response spectrum. The concept of demand to capacity ratios has been employed to provide an initial estimation of the seismic performance of the bridge members. As a consequence of the structural form, a particular type of irregularity is introduced due to variable heights of columns transferring the deck loads to the main arch. Hence, a particular attention has been paid to the internal force/moment distributions within the short, medium, and long columns as well as along the main arch. A study of the effects of the vertical component of ground motion has demonstrated the need for the inclusion of these effects in the analysis of such bridges.     

基于IDA的高墩大跨桥梁地震易损性分析

针对目前我国桥梁抗震设计规范仅适用于墩高40m以下规则桥梁的现状,以一常见山区高墩大跨连续刚构桥为研究对象,采用IDA方法分析了桥梁结构在15条地震动下的动态响应,得到桥墩各截面在所有地震动作用下的曲率包络图。以高墩最不利截面的材料损伤应变所对应的截面曲率为损伤指标,结合能力需求比对数回归分析,计算了高墩在不同损伤状态下的破坏概率,建立了墩柱易损性曲线,同时还建立了梁端支座的易损性曲线。基于联合失效概率分析方法,形成了桥梁系统易损性曲线。分析结果表明:薄壁空心墩连续刚构桥在强地震作用下高墩发生破坏的部位主要集中在墩顶和墩底区域;墩柱发生完全破坏的概率极小,但桥台处梁端活动支座的地震损伤概率较高;桥梁系统损伤概率能够更加准确地反映高墩大跨桥梁的真实抗震性能。     

Isolation parameters for improving the seismic performance of irregular bridges

Bridge structures are usually built on irregular topographical surfaces which create substructures with different pier heights and non uniform stiffness distribution. Three irregularity types of typical reinforced concrete (RC) medium length bridges located in a high seismicity zone of Mexico, were analyzed aimed at determining the best strength and stiffness parameters of an isolation system. The isolation system is composed by lead rubber bearings (LRB) located on each pile and abutment. The variation of the bridge characteristics and the isolation parameters produced 169 models that were subjected to ten seismic records representative of the subduction zone in the Pacific Coast of Mexico. A total of 1690 nonlinear time history analyses (NLTHA) were carried out in longitudinal and transverse directions of the structures. The maximum pier drifts, bending moments and shear forces demands were analyzed to identify the best isolation properties for reducing the concentration of damage in one or two elements and for improving the structural behavior of irregular bridges. Additionally, the analysis of the seismic response of the bridges supported on traditional neoprene bearings was carried out.     

断层走向对刚构桥地震反应的影响

我国西部部分连续刚构桥临近地震断层建设,在抗震分析时通常会忽略断层走向与桥梁纵桥向夹角对其地震反应的影响。利用Midas Civil软件建立4座墩高不同的大跨度连续刚构桥模型,选取10组近断层强震记录进行时程分析,研究断层走向对刚构桥地震反应(位移和弯矩反应)的影响。结果显示：在水平双向近断层地震动输入下,桥梁主墩及主梁纵桥向地震反应在断层走向与纵桥向夹角为75°～135°范围内最大,而横桥向最大地震反应则发生在夹角为0°～30°或120°～180°范围;在三向近断层地震动输入下,与仅考虑水平双向地震动输入下的桥梁地震反应相比,竖向地震动对主梁竖向弯矩响应的影响较大,特别是主墩和主梁的交界处,增大比例可达2倍及以上。就文章选取的4座桥梁算例,不考虑断层走向和桥梁纵桥向的夹角则存在低估桥梁地震反应的可能,低估误差在15%～40%左右。     

超大跨度斜拉桥考虑行波效应的地震动随机响应研究

斜拉桥地震反应不同于其它桥型,具有明显的空间耦合效应.利用有限元理论对苏通长江公路大桥的空间抗震性能进行分析,重点研究行波效应对结构响应的影响,并与一致激励计算的结果进行比较,为大跨度斜拉桥抗震分析采用随机方法提供了一定的参考依据.研究结果表明,行波效应对斜拉桥结构内力有显著的影响,大跨度斜拉桥抗震性能分析必须考虑行波效应.而行波效应的影响与结构自身动力特性、视波速、构件位置及研究响应类型(位移与内力)相关.     

板式支座与铅芯支座连续梁桥振动台试验对比分析

通过对分别采用板式支座和铅芯支座的2座3跨连续梁桥模型进行振动台试验,对比分析了这2类桥梁的动力特性、破坏过程及2种支座对连续梁桥地震反应的影响。研究结果表明：地震波特性对桥梁结构的地震反应有较大影响,在对桥梁结构进行抗震设计时,需选择合理的地震动输入;在地震强度较小时,板式支座的滑动能够起到一定的隔震效果,铅芯支座的隔震性能能得到较好的发挥;在地震强度较大时,铅芯支座的隔震性能不能得到很好的发挥,采用铅芯支座的桥梁地震反应不一定小于普通桥梁;通过合理的设计,2类桥梁都完全可以实现大震不倒的设防目标。     

A comparative study between China and U.S. on seismic design philosophy and practice of a long span arch bridge

This paper presents the first of a series of case studies on the seismic design of long span bridges （cable-stayed bridges, suspension bridges and arch bridges） under a cooperative research project on seismic behavior and design of highway bridges between the State Key Laboratory for Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, University at Buffalo. The objective of this series of case studies is to examine the differences and similarities on the seismic design practice of long span bridges in China and the U.S., to identify research needs and to develop design guidelines beneficial to bridge engineers in both countries. Unlike short to medium span bridges, long span bridges are not included in most seismic design specifications, mainly because they are location dependent and structurally unique. In this paper, an available model of a steel tied half through arch bridge with a main span of 550m in China is discussed. Analysis is focused on comparisons of the seismic responses due to different ground motions. Seismic design criteria and seismic performance requirements for long span bridges in both countries were first introduced and compared, and then three near field earthquake records with large vertical components were selected as the excitations to examine the seismic behavior and seismic vulnerability of the bridge. Results show that （1） the selected near field ground motions cause larger responses to key components （critical sections） of the bridge （such as arch rib ends） with a maximum increase of more than twice those caused by the site specific ground motions; （2） piers, longitudinal girders and arch crowns are more vulnerable to vertical motions, especially their axial forces; and （3） large vertical components of near field ground motions may not significantly affect the bridge＇s internal forces provided that their peak acceleration spectra ordinates only appear at periods of less than 0.2s. However, they may have more influence on the longitudinal displacements of sliding bearings due to their large displacement spectra ordinates at the fundamental period of the bridge.