Wave Passage and Ground Motion Incoherency Effects on Seismic Response of an Extended Bridge

This paper investigates the implications of ground motion spatial variability on the seismic response of an extended highway bridge. An existing 59-span, 2,164-meter bridge with several bearing types and irregularity features was selected as a reference structure. The bridge is located in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and supported on thick layers of soil deposits. Site-specific bedrock input ground motions were selected based on a refined probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of the bridge site. Wave passage and ground motion incoherency effects were accounted for after propagating the bedrock records to the ground surface. The results obtained from inelastic response-history analyses confirm the significant impact of wave passage and ground motion incoherency on the seismic behavior of the bridge. The amplification in seismic demands exceeds 150%, whereas the maximum suppression of these demands is less than 50%. The irregular and unpredictable changes in structural response owing to asynchronous earthquake records necessitate in-depth seismic assessment of major highway bridges with advanced modeling techniques to realistically capture their complex seismic response.

• Record URL:
  • http://ascelibrary.org/beo/resource/1/jbenf2/v16/i3/p364_s1?isAuthorized=no
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32947845
• Authors:
  • Mwafy, Aman M
  • Kwon, Oh-Sung
  • Elnashai, Amr S
  • Hashash, Youssef M A
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 364-374
• Serial:
  • Journal of Bridge Engineering
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1084-0702
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/beo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bedrock; Earthquake resistant structures; Geotechnical engineering; Highway bridges; Long span bridges; Seismicity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Inelasticity; Wave passage effect
• Geographic Terms: New Madrid Seismic Zone
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01342512
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Jun 23 2011 9:06AM