EVALUATION OF ENERGY ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES UNDER SEISMIC CONDITIONS. VOLUME I. FINAL REPORT

Modern seismic design provisions for highway bridges rely on the energy-absorption capabilities of the ductile components and the ability of the overall system to dynamically respond so the ductile components can absorb energy. In the absence of physical data on the dynamic response of highway bridges, obtained either by physical tests or from actual earthquakes, bridge engineers must resort to analytical means to assess the dynamic response characteristics of bridges. Analytical procedures, which are developed herein for evaluating the energy-absorption characteristics of highway bridges, are incorporated into a new version (NEABS-II) of the computer program NEABS (Nonlinear Earthquake Analysis of Bridge Systems). A nonlinear beam-column element is developed for reinforced concrete bridge columns that has kinematic hardening, which permits the yield surface to translate in a force-space without changing size or shape. A gapped tension-compression, tie-bar element having bilinear force-displacement relationships was developed for the NEABS-II nonlinear expansion-joint element. Case studies are conducted with NEABS-II on three actual bridges having distinctly different dynamic response and energy-absorbing characteristics.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume II - Appendices.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Berkeley

  Earthquake Engineering Research Center
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94720

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Imbsen, R A
  • Penzien, J
• Publication Date: 1986-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 332 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Case studies; Columns; Computer programs; Dynamic loads; Earthquake resistant design; Earthquake resistant structures; Earthquakes; Energy absorption; Expansion joints; Highway bridges; Nonlinear systems; Reinforced concrete; Tie bars
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic response; Seismic loading
• Old TRIS Terms: Analytical method
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496650
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWACAUCB/EERC 84-17
• Contract Numbers: F78SD15
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM