Effects of Near-Fault Vertical Ground Motions on Seismic Response of Highway Bridges

Preliminary findings from an ongoing research study that systematically characterizes ground motion parameters and investigates the effects of near-fault vertical accelerations on the overall response of typical highway bridges will be presented. Nonlinear simulation models with varying configurations of an existing bridge in California are considered in the analytical study. A comprehensive set of ground motions with horizontal PGA in excess of 0.5 g and recorded within 15 km from the nearest fault were selected from the PEER NGA (Next Generation Attenuation) project. The selected ground motions are classified by source mechanism, fault distance, vertical to horizontal acceleration ratios, and other relevant ground motion measures. The simulation models were subjected to the selected ground motion set in two stages: at first, only horizontal components of the motion were applied; while in the second stage the structures were subjected to both horizontal and vertical components applied simultaneously. Important response measures were monitored to gain an insight into the effects of vertical acceleration on the inelastic response of typical ordinary standard bridges. The analytical simulations will provide a basis for investigating features of the ground motion that most significantly contribute to adverse effects from vertical accelerations. Findings from the study will contribute to the development of revised guidelines to address vertical ground motion effects, particularly in the near fault regions, in the seismic design of highway bridges.

• Corporate Authors:

  Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research

  State University of New York, 107 Red Jacket Quadrangle, P.O. Box 610025
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14261-0025
• Authors:
  • Erduran, Emrah
  • Yilmaz, Zeynep
  • Kunnath, Sashi K
  • Abrahamson, Norman
  • Chai, Y H
  • Yashinsky, Mark
  • Sheng, Li-Hong
• Conference:
  • Fifth National Seismic Conference on Bridges & Highways
  • Location: San Francisco CA, United States
  • Date: 2006-9-18 to 2006-9-20
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: Fifth National Seismic Conference on Bridges and Highways: Innovation in Earthquake Engineering for Highway Structures

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distance; Earthquake resistant design; Faults; Guidelines; Highway bridges; Mathematical models; Ratios; Seismicity; Simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acceleration; Attenuation; Next generation design; Nonlinearity; Parameters; Responses
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I42: Soil Mechanics; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01080741
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: B12
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 15 2007 10:32AM