Humboldt Bay Middle Channel Bridge: 3D Bridge-foundations-ground System

Soil-structure interaction may play a major role in the seismic response of a bridge structure. More specifically, a significant reduction in soil stiffness and strength may result in permanent displacement of the abutments and foundations, thus imposing important kinematic conditions to a bridge structure. The aim of this paper is to show the effects of this behavior referring to the Humboldt Bay Middle Channel Bridge in California. The finite element model and nonlinear solution strategy are built in the open-source software platform OpenSees. The 3-D nature of the bridge response imposes significant computational challenges. The soil is modeled as a nonlinear material with a Von Mises multi-surface kinematic plasticity model so as to reproduce elastoplastic shear response. The results obtained using 1978 Tabas earthquake records show that changes in properties of the superficial soil layers dictate significantly different time histories of dynamic excitation at the various support points of the bridge.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 99-104
  • Monograph Title: Innovations in Bridge Engineering Technology

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01333852
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9780415453370
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 22 2011 10:33AM