Effects of air temperature on the cyclic behavior of elastomeric seismic isolators

The mechanical properties of elastomers can change significantly due to air temperature variations. In particular, prolonged exposure to subzero temperatures can result in rubber crystallization, with a considerable increase in the shear stiffness of the material. As a result, the seismic response of structures with elastomeric isolators can be strongly influenced by air temperature. Current seismic codes, indeed, require an upper and lower bound analysis, using suitable modification factors, to account for the changes in the cyclic behavior of elastomeric isolators due to air temperature variations. In this study, the sensitivity of the cyclic behavior of elastomeric isolators to air temperature variations is investigated based on the experimental results of an extensive test program on six different elastomeric compounds for seismic isolators, characterized by a shear modulus ranging from 0.5 to 1.2 MPa at 100% shear strain and 20°C. The cyclic tests have been performed on small-size specimens, subjected to shear strain amplitudes and frequency of loading typical for elastomeric seismic isolators, at seven different air temperatures, ranging from 40 to −20°C. The effects of rubber crystallization due to prolonged exposure to low-temperatures have been also investigated. A finite element model for the evaluation of the temperature contour map inside a full-size elastomeric isolator exposed to low air temperatures has been also developed. In the paper, the experimental outcomes are compared with the modification factors provided by the current seismic codes to account for the temperature effects on the mechanical properties of elastomeric isolators.     

A parametric study of seismic behavior of roller seismic isolation bearings for highway bridges

A roller seismic isolation bearing is proposed for use in highway bridges. The bearing utilizes a rolling mechanism to achieve seismic isolation and has a zero post‐elastic stiffness under horizontal ground motions, a self‐centering capability, and unique friction devices for supplemental energy dissipation. The objectives of this research are to investigate the seismic behavior of the proposed bearing using parametric studies (1) with nonlinear response history analysis and (2) with equivalent linear analysis according to the AASHTO guide specifications, and by comparing the results from both analysis methods (3) to evaluate the accuracy of the AASHTO equivalent linear method for predicting the peak displacement of the proposed bearing during an earthquake. Twenty‐eight ground motions are used in the studies. The parameters examined are the sloping angle of the intermediate plate of the bearing, the amount of friction force for supplemental energy dissipation, and the peak ground acceleration levels of the ground motions. The peak displacement and base shear of the bearing are calculated. Results of the studies show that a larger sloping angle does not reduce the peak displacement for most of the parametric combinations without friction devices. However, for parametric combinations with friction devices, it allows for the use of a higher friction force, which effectively reduces the peak displacement, while keeping a self‐centering capability. The AASHTO equivalent linear method may underestimate the peak displacement by as much as 40%. Vertical ground motions have little effect on the peak displacement, but significantly increase the peak base shear. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A base isolation system for bridges subjected to seismic disturbances

The study reported in this paper investigates the feasibility of developing an active base isolation system for the protection of bridges subjected to earthquakes. The proposed system incorporates spherical supports, cams and springs which can be optimally designed to minimize the transmissibility of the seismic disturbances to the bridge. The considered example shows that the proposed design is implementable and can provide an order of magnitude reduction in the maximum stress resulting from seismic waves acting on the bridge in the transverse or longitudinal direction. Since the system performance is highly dependent on the rapid unlocking of the cams in the event of a seismic disturbance, careful consideration should be given to the design of a reliable cam release control. This can be achieved by spring loading each cam such that it would be normally unlocked. A hydraulic actuator would be used to force it to rotate to the locking position under fluid pressure which would be constantly maintained at the design level during normal conditions. The actuator would be equipped with a quick response release valve for rapidly releasing the pressure and consequently unlocking the cam as soon as an earthquake is detected. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A performance-based adaptive methodology for the seismic evaluation of multi-span simply supported deck bridges

A performance-based adaptive methodology for the seismic assessment of highway bridges is proposed. The proposed methodology is based on an Inverse (I), Adaptive (A) application of the Capacity Spectrum Method (CSM), with the capacity curve of the bridge derived through a Displacement-based Adaptive Pushover (DAP) analysis. For this reason, the acronym IACSM is used to identify the proposed methodology. A number of Performance Levels (PLs), for which the seismic vulnerability and seismic risk of the bridge shall be evaluated, are identified. Each PL is associated to a number of Damage States (DSs) of the critical members of the bridge (piers, abutments, joints and bearing devices). The IACSM provides the earthquake intensity level (PGA) corresponding to the attainment of the selected DSs, using over-damped elastic response spectra as demand curves. The seismic vulnerability of the bridge is described by means of fragility curves, derived based on the PGA values associated to each DS. The seismic risk of the bridge is evaluated as convolution integral of the product between the fragility curves and the seismic hazard curve of the bridge site. In this paper, the key aspects and basic assumptions of the proposed methodology are presented first. The IACSM is then applied to nine existing simply supported deck bridges, characterized by different types of piers and bearing devices. Finally, the IACSM predictions are compared with the results of nonlinear response time-history analysis, carried out using a set of seven ground motions scaled to the expected PGA values.     

多点激励下大跨度斜拉桥地震反应分析

大跨斜拉桥是交通运输的枢纽工程,一旦在地震中遭到破坏,将会造成巨大的直接和间接经济损失.由于大跨斜拉桥的跨度大,在地震中地震波到达不同桥墩的时间存在差异,这会对大跨斜拉桥的地震反应产生很大影响.因此,对大跨斜拉桥在多点输入下的反应开展研究,对进行正确有效的抗震设计,确保其抗震安全性具有非常重要的意义.本文分析了多点激励下大跨度斜拉桥的地震反应,并与一致激励下大跨度斜拉桥的地震反应进行了对比,研究了多点激励对大跨度斜拉桥地震反应的影响.     

Probabilistic residual capacity assessment of mainshock-damaged multi-span simply supported concrete girder bridges subjected to aftershocks

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering - Since post-mainshock events following a major earthquake are likely to occur, it is imperative to have an understanding of the functionality status of...     

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.     

A mechanical model for elastomeric seismic isolation bearings including the influence of axial load

For the purpose of predicting the large‐displacement response of seismically isolated buildings, an analytical model for elastomeric isolation bearings is proposed. The model comprises shear and axial springs and a series of axial springs at the top and bottom boundaries. The properties of elastomeric bearings vary with the imposed vertical load. At large shear deformations, elastomeric bearings exhibit stiffening behavior under low axial stress and buckling under high axial stress. These properties depend on the interaction between the shear and axial forces. The proposed model includes interaction between shear and axial forces, nonlinear hysteresis, and dependence on axial stress. To confirm the validity of the model, analyses are performed for actual static loading tests of lead–rubber isolation bearings. The results of analyses using the new model show very good agreement with the experimental results. Seismic response analyses with the new model are also conducted to demonstrate the behavior of isolated buildings under severe earthquake excitations. The results obtained from the analyses with the new model differ in some cases from those given by existing models. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the seismic behaviour of monolithic lunar arches subjected to moonquakes

With a new era emerging in the field of lunar exploration and habitation, there is a need for research on structural forms made of local soil material (regolith), which will be able to endure the extreme conditions in harsh environments (e.g., extreme temperature fluctuations, solar and cosmic radiation, meteor showers, strong ground motions, etc.). The present work focuses on understanding the dynamic and seismic behaviour of certain structural typologies of monolithic arches by means of finite element analysis (FEA). These typologies were extensively investigated previously, using static analyses accounting for the reduced gravitational field on the moon, and proved to be of the optimum shape against certain loading scenarios. Specifically, these optimal monolithic arch forms (named enhanced varying-thickness arches – EVTAs) examined herewith, are described by varying-thickness geometry, properly enhanced at certain weak points for increasing their structural stability. Aiming at a fair comparison, the seismic behaviour of EVTAs is contrasted to that of their corresponding monolithic constant-thickness (CTAs) counterparts (having the same amount of structural material). After defining an appropriate damage state, the authors conduct preliminary pushover analyses to determine the structural capacity of the arches against lateral loading. Subsequently, the modal analysis of the EVTAs shows that the second/vertical mode exhibits a natural period almost equal to that of their first/translational mode and substantially longer than the corresponding second/vertical mode of their CTA counterparts, indicating a potential vulnerability along the vertical excitation. Furthermore, taking into account that shallow moonquakes are comparable to intraplate earthquakes in terms of hazard potential, the authors produce sets of stochastic seismic excitations used as time histories for seismic analyses. The probability of exceedance of the defined damage state as a function of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) is presented through indicative fragility curves, where the structural superiority of EVTAs against their CTA counterparts is demonstrated.     

Effects of balanced impact damper in structures subjected to walking and vertical seismic excitations

This study investigates whether a balanced impact damper (BID) with a vertically suspended impact body colliding with shock absorbing rubber can suppress vibrations of a floor slab subjected to walking and vertical seismic excitations. The impact body is suspended by coil springs to sustain its deadweight and centralize it within the gap, and collides with the stopper when its amplitude exceeds the specified gap width. The stopper is covered by a shock‐absorbing rubber made of polyurethane gel. The installed BID was evaluated in a single degree‐of‐freedom model of a floor slab subjected to vertical excitations. Simulations revealed that the installed BID properly controls the vibrations. Next, the effects of the BID installed on a steel plate were investigated in shaking table tests. The BID effectively suppressed vertical vibrations of the plate subjected to sinusoidal waves, seismic motions, and walking excitations. In addition, the shaking table tests were accurately simulated by the developed mathematical model of the damper. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

周期反复荷载作用下高轴压比框架柱抗震性能的试验研究

本文是关于框架柱在低周反复荷载作用下抗震性能的试验研究。根据16个“上”形试件在固定轴向荷载和水平周期反复荷载作用下的试验结果,首先讨论了影响框架柱开裂荷载的因素,接着深入分析了混凝土强度等级、轴压比、长细比、纵筋配筋率、箍筋形式及配箍特征值等因素对框架柱的延性和位移转角的影响。最后,根据本次试验结果,分析和讨论了框架柱轴压比超限问题和轴压比超限时配箍特征值的取值问题。     

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.     

Sloshing behaviours of rectangular and cylindrical liquid tanks subjected to harmonic and seismic excitations

A numerical and experimental study on the sloshing behaviours of cylindrical and rectangular liquid tanks is addressed. A three‐dimensional boundary element method for space with the second‐order Taylor series expansion in time is established to simulate the sloshing phenomenon and its related physical quantities inside a liquid tank subjected to horizontal harmonic oscillations or recorded earthquake excitations. The small‐scale model experiments are carried out to verify some results of numerical methods in this study. The comparisons between numerical and experimental results show that the numerical method is reliable for both kinds of ground excitations. Finally, the water wave and the base shear force of a rectangular tank due to harmonic excitation are also presented at different frequencies. A huge cylindrical water tank subjected to a recorded earthquake excitation is used for application and discussion. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同方向地震动作用下水平层状边坡动力响应特性

在斜坡的动力响应分析中,地震动的激振方向是影响斜坡动力响应规律的主要因素之一.本文以“5·12”汶川地震灾区典型斜坡岩性及结构为模拟特征,通过对水平层状岩质斜坡开展振动台模型试验,探究地震动方向对斜坡动力响应规律的影响.以输入峰值加速度0.3g的正弦波和天然波为例,着重对比分析斜坡模型在水平向、竖直向及合成向激振波作用下的加速度动力响应规律.研究结果表明:水平向上,在不同频率的地震动作用下,斜坡的中上部的加速度动力响应较之下部更为显著,X向地震动作用下斜坡的加速度动力响应沿高程呈较强的线性增大特征,而Z向地震动作用下斜坡的动力响应却表现出明显的非线性,且斜坡在合成向天然波作用下的响应规律表现出明显的P-△效应;竖直向上,Z向地震动作用下斜坡坡表和坡内的加速度响应值会随着频率的增加而不断减小,出现逐渐衰减和频散的现象.     

Hanger replacement influence on seismic response of suspension bridges: Implementation to the Bosphorus Bridge subjected to multi-support excitation

The effects of hanger replacement from inclined to vertical configuration on seismic response of long-span suspension bridges are investigated considering multi-support earthquake excitation. The Bosphorus Bridge is investigated due to its recent comprehensive rehabilitation, mainly involving hanger replacement. The finite-fault stochastic simulation method (FINSIM) is utilized for multi-point earthquake time-history generation. The developed finite element (FE) model both for the inclined and vertical hanger arrangement are verified through the structural health monitoring (SHM) data. Based on the comparative analysis, the tension force of vertical hangers is found to be lower than that of inclined hangers, whereas the tension force of the main and back-stay cables remains the same. The compressive axial force of the deck decreases relatively in the case of the vertical hanger arrangement, whereas the cross-sectional forces at the tower base section increase. The approach viaducts are not affected by the vertical hanger arrangement. According to the demand/capacity ratios for damage estimation under the max. earthquake (2475 years return period), structural damage on the tower base section may be expected for both hanger arrangements, while these sections perform well under design scenario earthquake. The expansion joint of the bridge with inclined hangers is also estimated to be damaged; however, this displacement is lower in the case of the vertical hanger arrangement due to the viscous dampers. The findings also reveal that a change in hanger form of a suspension bridge can necessitate other structural retrofit, such as using viscous dampers to limit longitudinal displacements of the deck and retrofitting the bridge towers.     

Experimental observations on the seismic shear performance of RC beam-to-column connections subjected to varying axial column force

The paper presents results from the first series of an ongoing experimental study aimed at quantifying the effect of axial column load on the shear capacity of beam-to-column connections. This is deemed important due to the recent evidence showing that vertical earthquake ground motion, when combined with high overturning moments, may cause reduced column compression or even tension. In which case, the concrete contribution to shear resistance in the panel zone is diminished, which may lead to failure prior to the attainment of the full resisting capacity of the beam section. The results first show that the failure mode of the models was, as intended, shear failure of the panel zone. It is further observed that the axial column load has a marked effect on the shear deformation capacity, yield point, cracking pattern, ultimate capacity and ductility of the panel zone. Differences in the range of 30 per cent in capacity and 50 per cent in deformability were recorded. The preliminary results are useful in providing design guidance for structures located in areas of potential high vertical ground motion component. Also, for high-rise structures, where there are large overturning moments, the results may be of use in ensuring a uniform safety factor (or overstrength) in various non-dissipative parts of the structure.     

The structural behaviour of timber joints subjected to bi‐axial bending

This study investigates the structural performance of interior, exterior and corner traditional timber joints found in a traditional temple in Japan subjected to bi‐axial bending. A total of 36 half‐scale specimens were fabricated and tested under both uni‐axial and bi‐axial cyclic bending for comparison of their structural behaviour. The results show that the corner joints exhibit lower rotational stiffness than the interior and exterior joints. Further, connections subjected to only uni‐axial moments exhibit better performance with regard to moment resistance, energy dissipation and stiffness degradation as compared with those subjected to bi‐axial moments. Hence, this study suggests that if the timber joints are subjected to bi‐axial bending, this effect on timber joints should be considered during the design and evaluation process in the future. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic analysis of train–bridge system subjected to non‐uniform seismic excitations

Based on the theory of dynamic wheel–rail interactions, a dynamic model of coupled train–bridge system subjected to earthquakes is established, in which the non‐uniform characteristics of the seismic wave input from different foundations are considered. The bridge model is based on the modal comprehension analysis technique. Each vehicle is modelled with 31 degrees of freedom. The seismic loads are imposed on the bridge by using the influence matrix and exerted on the vehicles through the dynamic wheel–rail interaction relationships. The normal wheel–rail interaction is tackled by using the Hertzian contact theory, and the tangent wheel–rail interaction by the Kalker linear theory and the Shen–Hedrick–Elkins theory. A computer code is developed. A case study is performed to a continuous bridge on the planned Beijing–Shanghai high‐speed railway in China. Through input of typical seismic waves with different propagation velocities to the train–bridge system, the histories of the train running through the bridge are simulated and the dynamic responses of the bridge and the vehicles are calculated. The influences of train speed and seismic wave propagation velocity on the dynamic responses of the bridge–vehicle system are studied. The critical train speeds are proposed for running safety on high‐speed railway bridges under earthquakes of various intensities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.