AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF TRAVELING SEISMIC WAVES ON THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL RESPONSE OF STRUCTURES

Although usually not considered in design applications, the spatial variations of incident seismic wave motions may, under certain conditions, have a profound influence on the response of structures. To investigate these effects, a new methodology has been developed for analyzing the fully three-dimensional dynamic response of structures that: (1) are above the ground, elastic, and have an arbitrary configuration; (2) are supported on any number of rigid foundations of arbitrary shape that rest on the surface of an elastic half-space; and (3) are subjected to input motions from body or surface waves with arbitrary excitation frequencies and angles of incidence. The superstructure is represented using a finite element model; foundation/soil interaction effects are analyzed using a continuum method. This report describes the general methodology and presents an example of its application to the analysis of a simple single-span bridge/soil system subjected to incident SH-waves. The analysis results clearly demonstrate the importance of traveling wave effects and the influence of different angles of incidence on the three-dimensional bridge response characteristics.

• Corporate Authors:

  Agbabian Associates

  250 North Nash Street
  El Segundo, CA  United States  90245

  National Science Foundation

  Applied Science and Research Applications, 1800 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20550
• Authors:
  • Werner, S D
  • Lee, L C
  • WONG, H L
  • Trifunac, M D
• Publication Date: 1977-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 161 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angle of incidence; Bridge foundations; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Computer programming; Dynamic loads; Dynamics; Earth movements (Geophysics); Earthquake resistant structures; Earthquakes; Elastic analysis; Elastic waves; Excitation; Finite element method; Foundations; Mathematical models; Soils; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans; Dynamic response; Earth movements; Models; Soil dynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Elastic design
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175121
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AA-R-7720-4514, NSF/RA-770310
• Contract Numbers: NSF-ENV75-02473
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM