Influence of Soil Flexibility on the Behavior of Existing Bridges in Regions of Moderate Seismicity

Abstract eng:
For the assessment of existing bridges a realistic modeling of the system behavior is crucial to capture the relevant influences on the seismic response. This is particularly the case for structures that have not been designed according to modern seismic design principles as they can develop inelastic deformations in parts that would otherwise be capacity protected. This holds also true for the soil-foundation system of existing cantilever piers with spread foundations which may develop significant inelastic deformations and thus even prevent the piers from entering into the inelastic range. As a consequence, the seismic behavior of the bridge structure can change completely compared to a fixed-base pier model, especially with respect to the local member deformation demands. In this paper, a simplified engineering model to estimate the influence of soil flexibility at spread foundations is presented. The model is applied on a sample structure with varying parameters to show the consequences of different conditions and assumptions on the structure response.

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