Open AccessMultidirectional seismic response of a curved highway bridge model
Author(s) -
D. N. Williams,
William G. Godden
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
bulletin of the new zealand society for earthquake engineering/nzsee quarterly bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.917
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2324-1543
pISSN - 1174-9857
DOI - 10.5459/bnzsee.9.2.97-114
Subject(s) - expansion joint , girder , structural engineering , earthquake shaking table , joint (building) , bridge (graph theory) , excitation , geology , ductility (earth science) , span (engineering) , scale model , engineering , physics , medicine , creep , electrical engineering , aerospace engineering , thermodynamics
A continuing experimental model study relating to the seismic resistance of large multi-span curved overcrossings is reported.
A brief description of the microconcrete model, a 1/30 true-scale version of a hypothetical prototype, which was tested on the 20 ft x 20 ft (6.1 m) Shaking Table at the University of California, is given. The response of the model is described for a series of simulated seismic excitations applied
(i) horizontally in the asymmetric longitudinal direction, and
(ii) horizontally in the symmetric direction, both alone and also with simultaneous vertical excitation.
The influence of expansion joint design on the seismic behaviour is the main parameter studied, with emphasis on the need for joint restrainers of adequate ductility, to effectively tie adjacent girders together. However, because of the severe damage caused by impacting at the expansion joints during moderately strong excitation, it is concluded that expansion joints should ideally be omitted from such structures.