• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.287-309
• /
• 2012

Precast segmental bridge columns (PSBC) are alternatives for monolithic cast-in-situ concrete columns in bridge substructures, with fast construction speed and structural durability. The analytical tool for common use is demonstrated applicable for seismic performance prediction of PSBCs through experiment conducted earlier. Then the analytical program was used for parameter optimization of PSBC configurations under reversal cyclic loading. Shear strength by pushover analysis was compared with theoretical prediction. Moreover, seismic response of PSBC with energy dissipation (ED) bars was compared with its no ED bar counterpart under three history ground acceleration records. The investigation shows that appropriate ED bar and post-tensioned tendon arrangement is important for higher lateral bearing capacity and good ductility performance of PSBCs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.419-429
• /
• 2024

The safety and stability of bridges are critical to traffic safety. However, post-earthquake ground motion records often contain noise, which undermines the accuracy of seismic response analysis in bridge structures. To tackle this issue, we introduce a method that optimizes Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) parameters using the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) and combines it with Wavelet Thresholding (WT) to eliminate noise from strong motion signals. SSA is employed to identify the optimal VMD parameters [K, α], followed by the selection of effective modes based on the Variance Contribution Rate (VCR). These modes are then subjected to WT noise reduction, resulting in a high-quality reconstructed strong motion record. The method was validated using both simulated signals and ground motion records. In simulations, it demonstrated a 31.35% reduction in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), a 31.6% decrease in the Smoothness Indicator (R), and a 1.17% improvement in the Correlation Coefficient (CC), compared to other methods. For ground motion records, it more accurately preserved seismic features than traditional wavelet denoising. When applied to the seismic response analysis of the Dahejia Bridge during the Jishishan earthquake, the denoised ground motion records obtained by this method produced force predictions on pier bearings that closely matched the field-observed damage, outperforming predictions based on traditional wavelet denoising. These findings confirm the accuracy and practicality of the proposed method.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.541-557
• /
• 2016

Prefabricated bridge substructures provide new possibility for designers in terms of efficiency of creativity, fast construction, geometry control and cost. Even though prefabricated bridge columns are widely adopted as a substructure system in the bridge construction project recently, lack of deeper understanding of the seismic behavior of prefabricated bridge substructures cause much concern on their performance in high seismic zones. In this paper, experimental research works are presented to verify enhanced design concepts of prefabricated bridge piers. Integration of precast segments was done with continuity of axial prestressing tendons and mild reinforcing bars throughout the construction joints. Cyclic tests were conducted to investigate the effects of the design parameters on seismic performance. An analytical method for moment-curvature analysis of prefabricated bridge columns is conducted in this study. The method is validated through comparison with experimental results and the fiber model analysis. A parametric study is conducted to observe the seismic behavior of prefabricated bridge columns using the analytical study based on strain compatibility method. The effects of continuity of axial steel and tendon, and initial prestressing level on the load-displacement response characteristics, i.e., the strain of axial mild steels and posttensioned tendon at fracture and concrete crushing strain at the extreme compression fiber are investigated. The analytical study shows the layout of axial mild steels and posttensioned tendons in this experiment is the optimized arrangement for seismic performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.69 no.6
• /
• pp.699-712
• /
• 2019

A cable-stayed bridge (CSB) is one of the most complicated structures, especially when subjected to earthquakes and taking into consideration the effect of soil-structure-interaction (SSI). A CSB of a 500 m mid-span was modeled by the SAP2000 software and was subjected to four different earthquakes. To mitigate the harmful effect of the vibration generated from each earthquake, four mitigation schemes were used and compared with the non-mitigation model to determine the effectiveness of each scheme, when applying on the SSI or fixed CSB models. For earthquake mitigation, tuned mass damper (TMD) systems and spring dampers with different placements were used to help reduce the seismic response of the CBS model. The pylons, the mid-span of the deck and the pylon-deck connections are the best TMDs and spring dampers placements to achieve an effective reduction of the earthquake response on such bridges.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.284-291
• /
• 2006

This paper presents a seismic response analysis of bridge structures considering foundation-soil interaction and multi-support input motion. In the earthquake analysis of structures it is usually assumed that the input ground motion is the same at all supports. However, this assumption is not justified for long structures like bridges, because observations have shown the earthquake ground motion can vary considerably within relatively small distances. When the soil under the foundation is relatively soft and deep, analysis for foundation-soil interaction always must be peformed. To consider foundation-soil interaction, soil response analysis is preceded, and after determining the material characteristics of foundation element obtained by foundation-soil interaction analysis at the frequency domain, the seismic response analysis of bridge superstructure with the equivalent spring and damper is performed. Finally, influences of multi-support input motion, which are affected by different soil characteristics, are also considered in this paper.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2004

In this paper, the seismic analysis and the modeling techniques have been introduced for seismic performances assessment, when seismic isolation bearings are applied to a real bridge. Nonlinear time-history analysis is carried out using finite element analysis program. El Centro earthquake(1940, N00W) used as earthquake ground excitations. The seismic response of seismically isolated bridge is compared with that of a bridge using conventional Pot Bearings, after obtaining the displacements of the deck, the deformations of the piers, shear forces and moments of the bottoms of the piers. The analytical analysis results show that seismic isolation bearing, especially seismic isolation bearings with sliding mechanism, could reduce earthquake forces.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2000.10a
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2000

Evaluation method of seismic performance has mainly used elastic spectrum analysis. This method has simplicity of analysis but deficiency of accuracy. And evaluation method of seismic performance using inelastic dynamic analysis reflects accurately inelasticity of material but hardly reflects site effects. This study suggested evaluation scheme of seismic performance for bridge structure using capacity spectrum method applied inelastic static analysis and standard design response spectrum of Korea Standard Specification for Highway Bridge. Two results, capacity spectrum method and inelastic dynamic analysis method, are very similar. As a result, this study appropriately supply both simplicity of analysis and accuracy of result.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.373-385
• /
• 2019

In this article, different frequently adopted modeling aspects of linear and nonlinear dynamic soil-structure interaction (SSI) are studied on a pile-supported integral abutment bridge structure using the open-source platform OpenSees (McKenna et al. 2000, Mazzoni et al. 2007, McKenna and Fenves 2008) for a 2D domain. Analyzed approaches are as follows: (i) free field input at the base of fixed base bridge; (ii) SSI input at the base of fixed base bridge; (iii) SSI model with two dimensional quadrilateral soil elements interacting with bridge and incident input motion propagating upwards at model bottom boundary (with and without considering the effect of abutment backfill response); (iv) simplified SSI model by idealizing the interaction between structural and soil elements through nonlinear springs (with and without considering the effect of abutment backfill response). Salient conclusions of this paper include: (i) free-field motions may differ significantly from those computed at the base of the bridge foundations, thus put a significant bias on the inertial component of SSI; (ii) conventional modeling of SSI through series of soil springs and dashpot system seems to stay on the safer side under dynamic conditions when one considers the seismic actions on the structure by considering a fully coupled SSI model; (iii) consideration of abutment-backfill in the SSI model positively affects the general response of the bridge, as a result of large passive resistance that may develop behind the abutments.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2000.04a
• /
• pp.259-266
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the seismic behavior assessment of circular reinforcement concrete bridge piers particularly with regard to assessing the displacement ductility curvature ductility response modification factor(R) and plastic hinge region etc, The experimental variables of bridge piers test consisted of transverse steel details amount and spacing different axial load levels etc. The test results indicated that reinforcement concrete bridge piers with confinement steel by the code specification exhibited suffcient ductile behavior and seismic performance. Also it is found that current seismic design code specification of confinement steel requirements may be revised.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2001.04a
• /
• pp.454-461
• /
• 2001

Dynamic responses of a multi-span simply supported bridge are examined under seismic excitations considering damage of bearings. An idealized mechanical model which can consider components such as pounding, friction at the supports, abutment-soil interaction, rotational and translational motions of foundations, and the nonlinear pier motions, is developed to analyze the effects due to damage of bearings. It is assumed that the bearing's response after failure can be expressed with a sliding model with a friction coefficient between the superstructure and the pier top. It is found that the global seismic behaviors are significantly influenced by the damage of bearings and the damage of bearings may lead to unseating failure at unpredicted supports. Therefore, It can be concluded that detailed seismic response analyses of bridge systems considering damage of bearings is required for the purpose of the seismic safety evaluation.