Performance-based Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges with Functional Bearing Systems

Performance-based Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges with Functional Bearing Systems

This study is aiming at developing displacement based design methods for bridges with functional bearing systems and their life cycle behavior. Based on recent investigations of existing bridges damaged from major earthquakes, particular in the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, it is found that the bearing system of the bridge, including the movements of the bearing, shear keys and restrainers, plays a vital role for the behavior of the bridge during a major earthquake. This mother proposal 'Seismic Assessment and study of Bridges with Functional Bearing Systems' proposes a three-year study to understand the effect of bridge bearing systems and to propose simplified and economical seismic retrofit methods for existing bridges based on the bearing systems. Basic mechanical behaviors and performance levels in each bearing component and the interrelationship among the different components will be tested to provide appropriate analytical models for numerical simulations. Besides, this project will also review and compare different pseudo-dynamic techniques and apply the discrete-time state-space numerical integration processes to build up a real-time bridge simulator.