Influence of earthquake ground motion incoherency on multi-support structures

A linear response history analysis method is used to determine the influence of three factors: geometric incoherency, wave-passage, and local site characteristics on the response of multi-support structures subjected to differential ground motions. A one-span frame and a reduced model of a 24-span bridge, located in Las Vegas, Nevada are studied, in which the influence of each of the three factors and their combinations are analyzed. It is revealed that the incoherency of earthquake ground motion can have a dramatic influence on structural response by modifying the dynamics response to uniform excitation and inducing pseudo-static response, which does not exist in structures subjected to uniform excitation. The total response when all three sources of ground motion incoherency are included is generally larger than that of uniform excitation.     

Highway bridge seismic design: Summary of FHWA/MCEER project on seismic vulnerability of new highway construction

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored a large, multi-year project conducted by the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) titled “Seismic Vulnerability of New Highway Construction” (MCEER Project 112), which was completed in 1998. MCEER coordinated the work of many researchers, who performed studies on the seismic design and vulnerability analysis of highway bridges, tunnels, and retaining structures. Extensive research was conducted to provide revisions and improvements to current design and detailing approaches and national design specifications for highway bridges. The program included both analytical and experimental studies, and addressed seismic hazard exposure and ground motion input for the U.S. highway system; foundation design and soil behavior; structural importance, analysis, and response; structural design issues and details; and structural design criteria. Supported by: the Federal Highway Administration under contract number DTFH61-92-C-00112.     

Direct estimation of seismic response in reduced-degree-of-freedom isolation and energy dissipation systems

A methodology for the development of design tools for direct estimation of peak inelastic response in reduced-degree-of-freedom (RDOF) isolation and energy dissipation systems is presented. The suggested procedure is an extension of an earlier method addressing purely hysteretic isolation systems. Herein, the dynamic equation of motion is first normalised to reduce the number of design parameters that significantly affect the response. The sensitivity of normalised response quantities to the amplitude of the ground motion is then investigated through extensive parametric nonlinear dynamic analyses of isolated single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems with linear viscous damping using code-based target spectra. Regression analysis is subsequently employed to develop generalised design equations (GDEs) suitable for design. Further investigations are made to address nonlinear viscous damping and the effect of the transverse component of seismic action in two-degree-of freedom (2DOF) systems under bidirectional excitation, making the procedure applicable to common bridge isolation schemes. GDEs constitute an alternative to equivalent linearisation approaches commonly adopted by codes, informing the selection among alternative isolation and energy dissipations schemes without requiring iterative analysis. The approach is incorporated in the Deformation-Based Design methodology for seismically isolated bridges in a forthcoming paper.     

低周往复荷载作用下生态复合墙体抗震性能研究

通过对2榀1/2比例生态复合墙体(施工工艺:装配式、现砌式)模型在水平低周反复荷载作用下的抗震性能试验,研究复合墙体在低周反复荷载作用下的受力特点和破坏机制,对比分析其承载力、滞回特性、延性、刚度退化、耗能等抗震性能.试验结果表明:不同施工工艺下生态复合墙体破坏模式均为“砌块-(框格)-边框”,实现结构具有多道抗震防线的设计概念;2榀墙体从屈服到破坏,等效黏滞阻尼系数均有较明显的增大,都具有较强的耗能能力.抗倒塌能力较强,可根据不同地区差异选取适当的工艺来满足实际应用的需求.     

Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Seismic Response of R.C. Hollow Bridge Piers

Appropriate seismic assessment of reinforced concrete bridges is an important challenge in structural engineering in consideration of the number and relevance of bridges built without applying advanced codes of practice and of the strategic role of transportation networks in modern economy. This paper focuses on some relevant aspects of the damage development and collapse modes of hollow piers, as commonly designed in the past. The following aspects have been considered: absence of confinement, inadequate shear strength, shifting of the critical section, insufficient length of lap splices. A series of experimental tests has been designed and performed; the capacity of predicting appropriate results of formulations recommended in codes of practice or proposed in recent research documents has been checked comparing experimental and analytical results.     

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.     

软土地基预制桩施工时桩上浮现象研究

为了研究预制桩施工时桩上浮规律,对温州某工程桩施工时桩上浮现象进行了系统地试验研究。通过检测发现,桩上浮与施工距离、施工顺序密切有关;桩日施工数量越多,桩终压值越高、桩周土质越硬,桩上浮越大;桩不同贯入长度引起的毗邻桩上浮量存在不同,而桩贯入速率对毗邻桩上浮速率影响不大;桩预钻孔、释放孔以及遮帘可以有效减少桩上浮。此外,文中还提出复压值与与单桩竖向承载力特征值、土层特性、桩长度以及桩持力层有关,可根据地区经验取值。     

A Combined Dry Jet Mixing-Prefabricated Vertical Drain Method for Soft Ground Improvement: A Case Study

A remarkable combined dry jet mixing (DJM) and prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) method was used to enhance the performance for soft ground improvement. In the combined method, PVDs are first installed and then DJM columns are installed between the PVDs at larger spacing. This combined method improves the effectiveness of the ground improvement and creates a more economical solution. This paper presents a case study of the combined method for marine clay improvement in Lianyugang of China. The excess pore water pressure in soils created by the installation of DJM columns with and without PVDs was monitored and compared. In situ standard penetration tests were conducted in the DJM columns and before-and-after piezocone penetration tests were performed in soils surrounding the columns. Long-term settlement monitoring under embankment loading was carried out for the ground improved by combined method and DJM method alone. The field tests, settlement monitoring and economic benefit analysis results demonstrated that the DJM-PVD method is technologically sound and cost-effective as compared with the conventional DJM method.