EFFECTIVE PARAMETERS A SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF SKEWED BRIDGES USING A SIMPLIFIED MODEL

This study investigates the behavior of skewed bridges based on the vulnerabilities that these structures demonstrate while seismic excitation is of great importance. Identifying the parameters affecting seismic vulnerability enables the designer of a skewed bridge to consider a proper understanding of various aspects of selecting the geometry and distribution of stiffening factors in a skewed bridge in the design process. Based on the geometric conditions, skewed bridges are coupled with mode shapes and significant rotation around the vertical axis is observed in certain conditions in earthquakes. In order to investigate and acquire the parameters affecting the domination of rotation modes in these structures, the present study employed a 3D model with three degrees of freedom whose accuracy had already been confirmed. Results of the numerical calculations revealed that effective parameters in the domination of rotation mode include the ratio of transverse stiffness to longitudinal stiffness of the columns, the ratio of length of the deck to its width, the ratio of the entire bridge mass to the mass of the pavement, the ratio of torsional stiffness of each column to the multiplication of longitudinal stiffness of the bridge by squared width of the bridge deck, the ratio of columns' eccentricity from the center of the mass to the width of the deck and skewedness. For further numerical calculations, a finite element model of the Foothill Boulevard Skewed Bridge was created, and a time history analysis was conductedon it. The results of the analyses of this finite element model were investigated and generalized to other skewed bridges.