Fragility of Older-Vintage Continuous California Bridges to Liquefaction and Lateral Spreading

Abstract eng:
Static pushover analyses are utilized to evaluate the vulnerability of typical older-vintage California bridges with continuous superstructures and monolithic abutments to liquefaction and lateral spreading. 950 Monte Carlo analyses with varying bridge structural properties and varying demands and displacement patterns were performed and damage to different components of the bridge and the fundamental failure mechanisms were identified. Global modeling of the bridge proved to be advantageous since some of the failure mechanisms identified in these analyses cannot be identified with component-wise local modeling of the bridge. Results of the analyses were also disaggregated with respect to their input parameters. The thickness of the nonliquefiable crust layer and strength (moment and shear capacity) of the piers were two of the most influential parameters in the performance of the bridge. Fragility curves representing free-field lateral spreading ground displacements required to exceed different levels of damage for this class of bridges were also presented.

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