Seismic response of steel suspension bridge

Performing accurate, realistic numerical simulations of the seismic response of long-span bridges presents a significant challenge to the fields of earthquake engineering and seismology. Suspension bridges in particular represent some of the largest and most important man-made structures and ensuring the seismic integrity of these mega-structures is contingent on accurate estimations of earthquake ground motions and accurate computational simulations of the structure/foundation system response. A cooperative, multi-year research project between the Univ. of California and LLNL was recently initiated to study engineering and seismological issues essential for simulating the response of major structures. Part of this research project is focused on the response of the long-span bridges with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge serving as a case study. This paper reports on the status of this multi-disciplinary research project with emphasis on the numerical simulation of the transient seismic response of the Bay Bridge

Dynamic Response of the Suspension Spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The dynamic response of the suspension spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFOBB) have been numerically modeled in a case-study to investigate the effects of long-period, near-field ground motions on flexible suspension bridges. The structural simulation model used in the study was developed as a special purpose computer program tailored to efficiently simulate the nonlinear response of cable supported bridges. The simulation model includes a number of special element technologies and solution algorithms that enable efficient nonlinear analysis of suspension bridges. The ground motions used in the study were site specific synthetic records for a Mw=7.25 earthquake along the Hayward fault at 12-15 km distant, and actual measured near-field records from the Izmit Turkey (1999) and Chi-Chi Taiwan (1999) earthquakes. These records include near- and far-field broad-band motions for three components. The results of the numerical simulations indicate that low frequency waveforms associated with near-field motions can place a significant demand on the structural systems of suspension bridges, and must be accounted for in suspension bridge analysis and design

Low yield metals and perforated steel shear walls for seismic protection of existing RC buildings

In the field of the seismic protection of buildings, the use of steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) may be particularly profitable in the seismic retrofitting interventions of existing RC buildings designed for gravity loads only. Some past researches have shown that when traditional full SPSWs are used as bracing devices of framed buildings, they may induce excessive design forces to the surrounding frame members. Therefore, low yield steels (LYS) could be a valuable option to overcome this applicability limit. Nevertheless, the scarce availability on the market of these steels suggests the employment of aluminium alloys and perforated steel plates, which have the benefit of incurring excursions in plastic range already for low stress levels. In this paper, a parametric analysis concerning the use of perforated metal plate shear walls (MPSWs) for seismic upgrading of existing RC framed structures represents a novelty of the research in the retrofitting interventions field. To this purpose, first, some experimental tests have been considered to calibrate a finite element model of the panel devices by using the SeismoStruct software. Subsequently, the proposed FEM model has been used to design the retrofitting systems with either full MPSWs or perforated SPSWs of an existing RC residential five-storey building, designed between the 1960s and 1970s of the last century. Finally, the different retrofitting panel systems examined have been compared to each other in terms of both structural and economic viewpoints, allowing to select the best intervention strategy

Comparative structural response of two steel bridges constructed 100 years apart

This paper presents a comparative numerical analysis of the structural behaviour and seismic performance of two existing steel bridges, the Infiernillo II Bridge and the Pinhao Bridge, one located in Mexico and the other in Portugal. The two bridges have similar general geometrical characteristics, but were constructed 100 years apart. Three-dimensional structural models of both bridges are developed and analysed for various load cases and several seismic conditions. The results of the comparative analysis between the two bridges are presented in terms of natural frequencies and corresponding vibration modes, maximum stresses in the structural elements and maximum displacements. The study is aimed at determining the influence of a 1 century period in material properties, transverse sections and expected behaviour of two quite similar bridges. In addition, the influence of the bearing conditions in the global response of the Pinhao Bridge was evaluated

Cyclic Behavior of Double Angle Bracing Members with End Gusset Plates.

The performance of braced frames during earthquakes strongly depends on the behavior of bracing members and their connections. In some instances earthquakes have caused total or partial failure of double angle bracing members and their connections. This dissertation presents the results of an experimental investigation of the cyclic behavior of full-size bracing members and a study of philosophies and procedures currently employed for designing bracing members with end gusset plates. Seventeen full-size test specimens made of double angle sections connected to the end gusset plates by fillet welds or high strength bolts were tested under large amplitude cyclic loading. Members designed by current code procedures generally showed fracture during early cycles of loading. New design procedures which are proposed to improve ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the bracing members are shown to have successful results. Procedures are given for the design of end connections and stitches to survive large post-buckling deformations. While the existing building code design philosophies for bracing members connections consider only strength, it is recognized that a rational design philosophy must consider ductility of connections. Such criteria are included in proposed design procedures. Experimental full size bracing member hysteresis loops compare favorably with those calculated by means of a semi-empirical model proposed by Gugerli and Goel.Ph.D.Civil engineeringUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/159130/1/8304436.pd