Enhancing resilience of highway bridges through seismic retrofit

The present study evaluates seismic resilience of highway bridges that are important components of highway transportation systems. To mitigate losses incurred from bridge damage during seismic events, bridge retrofit strategies are selected such that the retrofit not only enhances bridge seismic performance but also improves resilience of the system consisting of these bridges. To obtain results specific to a bridge, a reinforced concrete bridge in the Los Angeles region is analyzed. This bridge was severely damaged during the Northridge earthquake because of shear failure of one bridge pier. Seismic vulnerability model of the bridge is developed through finite element analysis under a suite of time histories that represent regional seismic hazard. Obtained bridge vulnerability model is combined with appropriate loss and recovery models to calculate seismic resilience of the bridge. Impact of retrofit on seismic resilience is observed by applying suitable retrofit strategy to the bridge assuming its undamaged condition prior to the Northridge event. Difference in resilience observed before and after bridge retrofit signified the effectiveness of seismic retrofit. The applied retrofit technique is also found to be cost‐effective through a cost‐benefit analysis. First order second moment reliability analysis is performed, and a tornado diagram is developed to identify major uncertain input parameters to which seismic resilience is most sensitive. Statistical analysis of resilience obtained through random sampling of major uncertain input parameters revealed that the uncertain nature of seismic resilience can be characterized with a normal distribution, the standard deviation of which represents the uncertainty in seismic resilience. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of the angle of seismic incidence on the fragility curves of bridges

This study examines the effect of the angle of seismic incidence θ on the fragility curves of bridges. Although currently, fragility curves of bridges are usually expressed only as a function of intensity measure of ground motion (IM) such as peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, or S_a(ω₁), in this study they are expressed as a function of IM with θ as a parameter. Lognormal distribution function is used for this purpose with fragility parameters, median c_m and standard deviation ζ to be estimated for each value of θ chosen from 0 < θ < 360°. A nonlinear 3D finite element dynamic analysis is performed, and key response values are calculated as demand on the bridge under a set of acceleration time histories with different IM values representing the seismic hazard in Los Angeles area. This method is applied to typical straight reinforced concrete bridges located in California. The results are validated with existing empirical damage data from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Even though the sample bridges are regular and symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis, the results indicate that the weakest direction is neither longitudinal nor transverse. Therefore, if the angle of seismic incidence is not considered, the damageability of a bridge can be underestimated depending on the incidence angle of seismic wave. Because a regional highway transportation network is composed of hundreds or even thousands of bridges, its vulnerability can also be underestimated. Hence, it is prudent to use fragility curves taking the incident angle of seismic waves into consideration as developed here when the seismic performance of a highway network is to be analyzed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Critical uncertainty parameters influencing seismic performance of bridges using Lasso regression

Recent efforts of regional risk assessment of structures often pose a challenge in dealing with the potentially variable uncertain input parameters. The source of uncertainties can be either epistemic or aleatoric. This article identifies uncertain variables exhibiting strongest influences on the seismic demand of bridge components through various regression techniques such as linear, stepwise, Ridge, Lasso, and elastic net regressions. The statistical results indicate that Lasso regression is the most effective one in predicting the demand model as it has the lowest mean square error and absolute error. As the sensitivity study identifies more than 1 significant variable, a multiparameter fragility model using Lasso regression is suggested in this paper. The proposed fragility methodology is able to identify the relative impact of each uncertain input variable and level of treatment needed for these variables in the estimation of seismic demand models and fragility curves. Thus, the proposed approach helps bridge owners to spend their resources judiciously (e.g., data collection, field investigations, and censoring) in the generation of a more reliable database for regional risk assessment. This proposed approach can be applicable to other structures.     

Introspection on improper seismic retrofit of Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio after 2009 Italian earthquake

The 2009 L’Aquila, Italy earthquake highlighted the seismic vulnerability of historic masonry building structures due to improper "strengthening" retrofit work that has been done in the last 50 years. Italian seismic standards recommend the use of traditional reinforcement techniques such as replacing the original wooden roof structure with new reinforced concrete (RC) or steel elements, inserting RC tie-beams in the masonry and new RC floors, and using RC jacketing on the shear walls. The L’Aquila earthquake revealed the numerous limitations of these interventions, because they led to increased seismic forces (due to greater additional weight) and to deformation incompatibilities of the incorporated elements with the existing masonry walls. This paper provides a discussion of technical issues pertaining to the seismic retrofit of the Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica and in particular, the limitations of the last (2000) retrofit intervention. Considerable damage was caused to the church because of questionable actions and incorrect and improper technical choices.     

Effect of vehicle bridge interaction on seismic response and fragility of bridges

This study focuses on understanding and evaluating the effect of vehicle bridge interaction (VBI) on the response and fragility of bridges subjected to earthquakes. A comprehensive study on the effect of VBI on bridge seismic performance is conducted, providing metamodels for seismic response and fragility estimates for bridges in the presence of various types of vehicles. For this purpose, the performance of multispan simply supported concrete girder bridges with varying design and geometric parameters is assessed with 3 different types of stationary trucks placed atop them. To delineate the effects of VBI and additional truck mass, the trucks are modeled in 2 different ways—with additional masses and suspension springs (ie, with VBI) and using additional masses only (without VBI). The results provide insight on VBI effects, such as the fact that when bridge and vehicle mode shapes are in‐phase, the component responses increase and vice versa; additionally, the presence of a heavy axle near a bent increases component responses. Sensitivity analyses are also performed to determine the bridge parameters that significantly alter the component responses in the presence of vehicles. Furthermore, differences in component responses and fragilities highlight that modeling vehicles with additional masses alone is not sufficient to model the effect of truck presence on the seismic response of bridges. Finally, this study concludes that depending on the characteristics of the bridge and the vehicle, presence of a vehicle atop the bridge during an earthquake may be either beneficial or detrimental to bridge performance.     

Computation of bridge seismic fragility by large‐scale simulation for probabilistic resilience analysis

Seismic resilience of structures and infrastructure systems is a fast developing concept in the field of disaster management, promoting communities that are resistant and quickly recoverable in case of an extreme event. In this contest, probabilistic seismic demand and fragility analyses are two key elements of the seismic resilience assessment in the majority of the proposed methodologies. Several techniques are available to calculate fragility curves for different types of structures. In particular, to assess the seismic performance of the regional transportation infrastructure, methods for the fragility curve estimation for entire classes of bridges are required. These methods usually rely on a set of assumptions, partially because of the limited information. Other assumptions were introduced at the time when computational resources were inadequate for a purely numerical approach and closed‐form solutions were a convenient alternative. For instance, some of these popular assumptions are aimed at simplifying the model of the engineering demand. In this paper, a simulation‐based methodology is proposed, to take advantage of the computational resources widely available today and avoid such assumptions on the demand. The resulting increase in accuracy is estimated on a typical class of bridges (multi‐span simply supported). Most importantly, the quantitative impact of the assumptions is assessed in the context of a life‐cycle loss estimation analysis and resilience analysis. The results show that some assumptions preserve an acceptable level of accuracy, but others introduce a considerable error in the fragility curves and, in turn, in the expected resilience and life‐cycle losses of the structure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于改进云图法的结构概率地震需求分析

概率地震需求分析是美国太平洋地震工程研究中心(Pacific Earthquake Engineering ResearchCenter,PEER)提出的新一代"性能化地震工程(Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering,PBEE)"理论框架的重要一环。传统的概率地震需求分析方法称为"云图法",这种方法针对确定性结构进行一系列地震动作用下的非线性动力分析,从而得到地震动强度参数与结构地震需求的"云图"。然而,传统的云图法只能考虑地震动的不确定性,而无法考虑结构的不确定性。为此,结合拉丁超立方体抽样技术,提出一种能综合考虑地震动不确定性和结构不确定性的改进云图法,并将传统的概率地震需求分析内容拓展为概率地震需求模型、概率地震需求易损性分析、概率地震需求危险性分析三个层次。以一榀五层三跨钢筋混凝土框架结构为例,分别采用传统云图法和改进云图法对其进行概率地震需求分析,得到了该结构的概率地震需求模型、地震需求易损性曲线和地震需求危险性曲线。分析结果表明:提出的方法可以有效地考虑地震动与结构的不确定性,避免不考虑结构的不确定性而低估结构的地震风险性。     

遗传优化神经网络方法在桥梁震害预测中的应用

本文将遗传算法与神经网络相结合,从而建立了一种高效的、实用的桥梁震害预测方法。根据遗传算法具有局部寻优的特点,为避免BP神经网络陷入局部极小值,本文将二者结合起来形成GA-BP混合算法,以GA优化神经网络的初始权值和阈值,对网络进行训练。在大量收集梁式桥震害资料的基础上,将此算法引入桥梁的震害预测中,并与传统的单独BP神经网络相比较,结果表明该方法能够有效、准确地对桥梁结构进行震害预测。     

基于汶川地震的LRB与RB隔震连续梁桥地震响应对比研究

为了研究铅芯橡胶支座(LRB)和板式橡胶支座(RB)对连续梁桥地震响应及隔震效果的影响,分别采用Bouc - Wen滞回恢复力模型模拟LRB的力-位移非线性特性,采用直线型恢复力模型模拟RB的本构关系,通过结构离散建立了非隔震、LRB隔震和RB隔震3种连续梁桥的有限元计算模型,运用四阶显式Runge - Kutta迭代法和Newmark时间积分法联合求解增量形式的全桥动力微分方程,并结合算例对3种连续梁桥有限元计算模型分别输入汶川地震波进行非线性时程对比分析.结果表明:LRB在控制梁体与支座位移,降低结构加速度和墩、台底内力响应方面均比RB的效果要显著;采用RB隔震后,梁体与支座的位移响应均较大,在桥梁隔震设计时要予以充分重视.     

地面运动强度参数对RC桥梁地震需求的影响

在基于性能的地震工程学(PBEE)中,建立概率地震需求模型(PSDM)时需要对桥梁结构的工程需求参数(EDP)进行概率估计。其中,强地面运动参数(IM)的选择对EDP的概率估计影响很大,因此需要正确选择IM。分别采用目前最广泛使用的结构第一模态周期弹性谱加速度(5%阻尼比)Sa(T1,5%)和峰值地面加速度PGA作为IM,选择实际地震波并进行合理的调值,对一座钢筋混凝土桥墩进行IDA分析,其计算结果表明:对于不同性质EDP的概率估计值,以PGA作为IM计算所得的结果明显偏于非保守,且离散度一般也更大。说明可以针对不同性质的EDP,根据地面运动强度的大小,选择不同的IM,通过合理的调值对EDP进行概率估计,可以更加精确、高效地建立PSDM。     

Seismic fragility assessment of RC frame structure designed according to modern Chinese code for seismic design of buildings

Following several damaging earthquakes in China,research has been devoted to find the causes of the collapse of reinforced concrete(RC) building sand studying the vulnerability of existing buildings.The Chinese Code for Seismic Design of Buildings(CCSDB) has evolved over time,however,there is still reported earthquake induced damage of newly designed RC buildings.Thus,to investigate modern Chinese seismic design code,three low-,mid-and high-rise RC frames were designed according to the 2010 CCSDB and the corresponding vulnerability curves were derived by computing a probabilistic seismic demand model(PSDM).The PSDM was computed by carrying out nonlinear time history analysis using thirty ground motions obtained from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center.Finally,the PSDM was used to generate fragility curves for immediate occupancy,significant damage,and collapse prevention damage levels.Results of the vulnerability assessment indicate that the seismic demands on the three different frames designed according to the 2010 CCSDB meet the seismic requirements and are almost in the same safety level.     

Effect of cumulative seismic damage and corrosion on the life‐cycle cost of reinforced concrete bridges

Bridge design should take into account not only safety and functionality, but also the cost effectiveness of investments throughout a bridge life‐cycle. This paper presents a probabilistic approach to compute the life‐cycle cost (LCC) of corroding reinforced concrete (RC) bridges in earthquake‐prone regions. The approach is developed by combining cumulative seismic damage and damage associated with corrosion due to environmental conditions. Cumulative seismic damage is obtained from a low‐cycle fatigue analysis. Chloride‐induced corrosion of steel reinforcement is computed based on Fick's second law of diffusion. The proposed methodology accounts for the uncertainties in the ground motion parameters, the distance from the source, the seismic demand on the bridge, and the corrosion initiation time. The statistics of the accumulated damage and the cost of repairs throughout the bridge life‐cycle are obtained by Monte‐Carlo simulation. As an illustration of the proposed approach, the effects of design parameters on the LCC of an example RC bridge are studied. The results are valuable in better estimating the condition of existing bridges and, therefore, can help to schedule inspection and maintenance programs. In addition, by taking into consideration the two deterioration processes over a bridge life‐cycle, it is possible to estimate the optimal design parameters by minimizing, for example, the expected cost throughout the life of the structure. A comparison between the effects of the two deterioration processes shows that, in seismic regions, the cumulative seismic damage affects the reliability of bridges over time more than the corrosion even for corrosive environments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of two alternative representations of ground‐motion uncertainty on probabilistic seismic demand assessment of structures

A probabilistic representation of the entire ground‐motion time history can be constructed based on a stochastic model that depends on seismic source parameters. An advanced stochastic simulation scheme known as Subset Simulation can then be used to efficiently compute the small failure probabilities corresponding to structural limit states. Alternatively, the uncertainty in the ground motion can be represented by adopting a parameter (or a vector of parameters) known as the intensity measure (IM) that captures the dominant features of the ground shaking. Structural performance assessment based on this representation can be broken down into two parts, namely, the structure‐specific part requiring performance assessment for a given value of the IM, and the site‐specific part requiring estimation of the likelihood that ground shaking with a given value of the IM takes place. The effect of these two alternative representations of ground‐motion uncertainty on probabilistic structural response is investigated for two hazard cases. In the first case, these two approaches are compared for a scenario earthquake event with a given magnitude and distance. In the second case, they are compared using a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis to take into account the potential of the surrounding faults to produce events with a range of possible magnitudes and distances. The two approaches are compared on the basis of the probabilistic response of an existing reinforced‐concrete frame structure, which is known to have suffered shear failure in its columns during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in Los Angeles, California. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.