Behaviour of the integral bridge under multi-component earthquakes Available to Purchase

The performance of integral bridges subjected to a multi-component earthquake has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, the responses of an integral bridge subjected to three-component far- and near-field earthquakes are determined to evaluate its relative structural advantages and disadvantages over a conventional bridge. Further, the effect of the interaction between the internal forces in the three directions on the total responses or yielding due to simultaneous application of the three components of an earthquake is investigated. For this purpose, two geometrically comparable bridges, one integral and other conventional, are analysed under far- and near-field earthquakes using SAP2000. The parameters varied are the type of ground motion, peak ground acceleration and orientation of the major horizontal component of the ground motion. Seismic demand parameters include the maximum bending moment in the girders, maximum moments at the top and bottom of piers, displacements in three directions and the plastic hinges formed. The results of the analysis show that the deck of the integral bridge has smaller displacements when compared with the conventional bridge. A greater number of plastic hinges are formed in the integral bridge, but the degree of damage shown by the hinge rotations in the conventional bridge is greater.