Model Bridge Pier-Foundation-Soil Interaction Implementing In-Situ/Shear Stack Testing and Numerical Simulation

Abstract eng:
This paper presents results of the measured and predicted response of a bridge pier model structure which has been erected at the Volvi-Greece European Test Site. After an initial laboratory testing of the bridge pier model under cyclic horizontal loads and the study of its cyclic post-elastic behaviour, a series of low-to medium intensity excitations were performed at the test site for a period of two years. The deck acceleration response was recorded and was studied in the frequency domain in order to extract the most significant eigen-modes and eigen-frequencies for the various configurations of this pier bridge model. Moreover, an extensive numerical simulation of the response was also performed, including the flexibility of the foundation. The numerical simulation was also extended to include a volume of soil under the foundation in order to study the soil response when the pier was subjected to low intensity man-made excitations. Four pressure cells were placed in the soil under the foundation and measurements were obtained from these pressure sensors during the man made excitations, which were then correlated to the numerical predictions. A summary of the in-situ measurements of the bridge pier model response are presented and compared with the corresponding numerical predictions from a variety of numerical simulations that attempt either in a relatively simple or a relatively complex way to address the influence on the response that arises from the flexible foundation conditions. A similar testing arrangement, but on a smaller scale, was investigated at the Laboratory through a small-scale model pier. This testing arrangement also includes the flexibility of the soil with the implementation of a sand box with a shear stack arrangement. Accelerations are recorded both on the pier as well as within the soil body. Also in this case, numerical analysis is complementary utilized and the dynamic response of the bridge pier model – sand box system is simulated. Both the eigen-frequencies and the seismic response of the system in the time domain, that are derived numerically, are found to be in good agreement with the measured results.

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