Seismic Behaviour and Analysis of Irregular

Bridges with Different Column Heights

Payam Tehrani
Supervisor: Prof. Denis Mitchell
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
McGill University
INTRODUCTION
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Main Problems with Bridges with Different Column Heights
Deformation demands on columns are highly
irregular and excessive deformation demands occur
in a few elements.
Stiffness irregularities cause concentration of seismic
shear forces in the shorter columns, so brittle shear
failure is possible.
Sequential yielding of ductile members may cause
substantial deviations of the results from linear
analyses performed with assumption of a global
reduction factor.
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Concrete shear strength degradation according to the high
ductility levels
Shear strength in plastic hinge region based on CSA-S6-06 :
Minimum factored axial compression >
Minimum factored axial compression = 0
Effect of ductility on shear strength?!
2.5
c c cr v v
V f b d |o =
0.1
c g
f A
'
0.18 | ~
0 | =
concentration of
high ductility demands
on short columns
Shear Strength
may be overestimated
in design
c
V
BACKGROUND
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Reinforced Concrete Bridge Models (1:2.5 scale)
ELSA Laboratory
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
The absorbed energy in the irregular bridge was
concentrated in the short middle pier, which dissipated
more than 70% of the total energy.
Safety against collapse of the irregular bridge was quite
low compared to the safety of the regular bridge.
The regular bridge was able to withstand twice the
design loads while the irregular bridge suffered damage
in the short column under a seismic input of 1.2 times
the design earthquake.
Results from ELSA Tests
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Study by Calvi et al. [1994 and 1996]
Straight bridges were considered with 3 or 5 piers of
different heights.
Results showed that EC8/2 design approach may result
in lower than expected safety levels, with higher than
expected ductility demands.
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Parameters of Regularity
Measures of the difference between the mode shape of the
whole bridge and of the deck alone.
: Mode shapes of the bridge : Mode shapes of the deck
n : Number of modes considered
2
1
1
( )
n
B D
i j
j
M
R
n
=
u u
=

1 1
2
[(1 ) ]
1
n n
B D
ij i j
i j
M
R
n
o
= =
u u
=

B
i
u
D
j
u
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Displacement Ductility Versus Regularity Factor
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t


D
u
c
t
i
l
i
t
y
Parameter of Regularity ( )
2
R
Modal Pushover
Analysis (MPA) for
Irregular Bridges?
An extension of the standard
pushover analysis
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
MPA Main Steps:
Compute the natural periods,
T
n
and modes,
n
Carry out separate pushover
analyses for each mode using
force distribution, s
n
=m
n
Calculate the earthquake
displacement demand for each
mode (e.g. Capacity Spectrum
Method (CSM))
Combine the peak modal
responses using the SRSS or
the CQC combination rule.
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Two Principal Assumptions:
The coupling among modes is essentially neglected.
SRSS or CQC combination rules are valid.
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Study by Kappos et al. on An Existing Bridge
Comparison between Modal Pushover Analysis (MPA), Single Pushover
Analysis (SPA) and Inelastic Time History Analysis (ITHA)
Design earthquake
Twice the
design earthquake
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Pushover Analysis should be used with caution for
following cases:
Bridges with great eccentricity
Torsionally flexible bridges (eg., free abutments)
Bridges with a relatively flexible deck
Bridges with very stiff central pier
Bridges with very stiff end piers
CODE
PROVISIONS
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Caltrans and the Proposed 2007 AASHTO Guide
Specifications
For any two bents within a frame
or any two columns within a bent:
For adjacent bents within a frame
or adjacent columns within a
bent:
The ratio of fundamental periods
of vibration for adjacent frames :
0.5
e
i j
e
j i
K m
K m
>
0.5
e
i
e
j
K
K
>
0.75
e
i
e
j
K
K
> 0.75
e
i j
e
j i
K m
K m
>
0.7
i
j
T
T
>
Oversimplified !!
PRELIMINARY
RESULTS
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Preliminary 4-Span Bridges
4-span bridges with different configurations and different abutment
conditions were studied.
Elastic Dynamic Analyses (EDA) were performed using SAP2000
and the modal information, forces and displacements were extracted
using programmed excel sheets.
Modal Pushover Analyses (MPA) were performed using SAP2000
and the results were extracted using programmed excel sheets
Inelastic Time History Analyses (ITHA) were performed in
RUAUMOKO software using 7 records matched to the design
spectra
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4-Span Bridges
Definition:
Bridge 213 has 3 piers with 14, 7 and 21 meters height respectively
(from left to right)
Span length is 50 m
Bridge 213 (2x7, 1x7, 3x7)
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Modal Pushover Analysis
Example of capacity- demand curves
for 2 different modes
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Spectrum Matched Records For Inelastic Time History
Analysis (ITHA)
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Bridges with Fixed Abutments
The results from 2 bridges will be presented:
Bridge 222 (Regular bridge with fixed abutments)
Bridge 213 (Irregular bridge with fixed abutments)
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Displaced Shape of the Bridge 222 (Regular bridge)
Using Different Methods of Analysis
Displacement shapes
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
X (m)
L
a
t
e
r
a
l

D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
)
Uniform load MPA ITHA ELASTIC
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Displaced Shape of the
Bridge 213 (Irregular Bridge)
Using Different Methods of Analysis
Displacement shapes
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
L
a
t
e
r
a
l

D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
)
Uniform load MPA ITHA ELASTIC
Short Column
at x=100 m
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Comparison Between Deck
alone and Irregular Bridge
Mode Shapes
Mode Shape (1st)
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
0 50 100 150 200
X
y
Deck Bridge
Mode Shape (2nd)
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
0 50 100 150 200
X
y
Deck Bridge
Mode Shape (3rd)
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
0 50 100 150 200
X
y
Deck Bridge
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Seismic Ductility Demand in Columns
Bridge 222 (Regular) and bridge 213 (Irregular)
Displacement shapes
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M1
Displacement shapes
-0.04
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M2
Displacement shapes
-0.004
-0.003
-0.002
-0.001
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M3
Displacement shapes
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M1
Displacement shapes
-0.04
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M2
Displacement shapes
-0.004
-0.003
-0.002
-0.001
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M3
Displacement shapes
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M1
Displacement shapes
-0.04
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M2
Displacement shapes
-0.004
-0.003
-0.002
-0.001
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0 50 100 150 200
X (m)
D

(
m
)
M3
Linear Analysis Nonlinear Analysis
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Rotational Demands on Columns of
Regular and Irregular Bridges
Regular
Irregular
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Bridges With Free Abutments
The results from 2 bridges will be presented:
Bridge 222R (Regular bridge with free abutments)
Bridge 213R (Irregular bridge with free abutments)
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Displaced Shape of the Bridge 222R
(Regular bridge with free abutments)
Using Different Methods of Analysis
Displacement shapes
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
X (m)
L
a
t
e
r
a
l

D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
)
Uniform load SRSS ITH ELASTIC
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Displaced Shape of the Bridge 213R
(Irregular bridge with free abutments)
Using Different Methods of Analysis
Displacement shapes
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
L
a
t
e
r
a
l

D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t

(
m
)
Uniform Load MPA ITH ELASTIC
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Seismic ductility Demand in Columns
(Bridge 222R and bridge 213R)
Linear Analysis Nonlinear Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Investigate the behaviour and safety level of bridges with varying
column height designed based on the CAN-CSA-S6-06 code.
Compare the results from different methods of analysis including
linear dynamic analysis, modal pushover analysis and nonlinear time
history analysis and if possible determine criteria capable of
indicating which analysis methods are valid.
When can the seismic behaviour of a bridge be predicted by simple
linear dynamic analysis with application of a global reduction
factor?
Apply the Direct Displacement-Based Design (DDBD) method in
design of some selected critical bridges and compare the seismic
behaviour of the bridges designed with forced-based and DDBD
method.
Research Objectives
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Thanks for your attention