Performance‐based seismic analysis and design of suspension bridges

Abstract

SUMMARYThis paper presents a performance-based seismic analysis and design of a large suspension bridge, the new Tacoma Narrows Parallel Crossing in the State of Washington. The scope of the project included establishment of design criteria, extensive analysis and validation of the design. The analysis was performed using detailed three-dimensional models that included geometric and material non-linearity. The target post-earthquake level of service was veriÿed using stress, deformation and ductility criteria. In the absence of well-established criteria, which relate the structural response of tower shafts to speciÿc levels of performance, capacity analyses were performed to demonstrate that the design fulÿlls the performance objectives. The seismic analysis and design of this bridge was reviewed throughout the design process. An independent check team also performed separate analysis and validation of the design. Thus, this bridge constitutes an example of a large-scale design project where the performance-based seismic design procedures underwent rigorous assessment. This work demonstrated that the performancebased approach for seismic design is an appropriate way for designing earthquake-resistant structures. Further data that relate the structural response with the performance objectives are necessary.

Girder Longitudinal Movement and Its Factors of Suspension Bridge under Vehicle Load

“…In early studies concerning girder end displacement and girder longitudinal vibration for the suspension bridges, majority of researchers were concerned with overlarge girder end displacement or pounding between adjacent components at the girder ends of the bridge [13][14][15]. However, for vehicle load, related to vertical moving loads, vertical vibration and deflection are directly and mostly investigated [16][17][18][19].…”

Fragility‐Based Improvement of System Seismic Performance for Long‐Span Suspension Bridges

“…Although the performance-based seismic evaluation framework has been widely applied to structural engineering and conventional highway bridges, only a small number of studies have investigated the seismic performance of suspension bridges by employing the performance-based evaluation methods. Arzoumanidis et al [3] set the seismic performance objectives of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge and validated the design through the extensive analysis including the demand analysis of global structure and the capacity analysis of components. In addition, in order to account for the uncertainties of certain factors related to the ground motion input, Sgambi et al [4] conducted a seismic analysis of long-span suspension bridges through the Monte Carlo simulations.…”