Seismic analysis and design of rigid bridge abutments considering rotation and sliding incorporating non-linear soil behavior

A two-dimensional (2D) finite element analytical model is developed to analyze the seismic response of rigid highway bridge abutments, retaining and founded on dry sand. A well verified finite element code named FLEX is used for this purpose. The proposed model has the following characteristics: (1) The soil (dry sand in this study) is modeled by a 2D finite element grid; (2) The bridge abutment is molded as a rigid substructure; (3) The strength and deformation of the soil are modeled using the viscous cap constitutive model. This model consists of a failure surface and hardening cap together with an associated flow rule. The cap surface is activated for the soil under the wall to represent compaction during wall rocking. In addition, viscoelastic behavior is provided for representing the hysteretic-like damping of soil during dynamic loading; (4) Interface elements are used between the wall and the soil (at the backface of the wall and under its base) to allow for sliding and for debonding/recontact behavior; (5) The finite element grid is truncated by using an absorbing boundary approximation. Using this boundary at both sides of the grid simulates the horizontal radiation of energy scattered from the wall and the excavation. Shear beams are placed adjacent to the lateral boundaries from each side which give the far-field ground motion, for comparison with those computed adjacent to the boundaries. The analytical model is verified comparing predictions to results from dynamic centrifuge tests, with satisfactory agreement. The proposed model is used to study the dynamic response of an 8.0 m high and 3.0 m wide rigid bridge abutment (proportioned using the traditional approach to design) for different sinusoidal and earthquake acceleration input motions. The results from the analysis show that outward tilting of rigid bridge abutments is the dominant mode of response during dynamic shaking and that these abutments end up with a permanent outward tilt at the end of shaking. The results from all the analyzed cases of the 8.0 m high gravity retaining wall together with those from the analysis of the tilting wall centrifuge tests are discussed and used for proposing a practical method for evaluating the seismic response of rigid abutments during earthquakes.