Seismic vulnerability assessment of the della valle viaduct

Abstract eng:
This paper reports the results of the seismic vulnerability assessment of an existing reinforced concrete highway bridge, “Della Valle viaduct” on Tollway 24, built in the Abruzzo Region, Italy in the 1970's. This study is part of a research in progress that aims preparing new Italian design guide-lines for the seismic vulnerability assessment of existing bridges.. The “Autostrada dei Parchi” company that manages the Tollway, provided extensive information on the bridge design and construction details. The bridge is curved and has a continuous prestressed concrete caisson girder, with two separate bridges, one in each direction. The hollow piers are prismatic and the their heigh vary between 5.5 and 50 meters. The piers and the deck are idealized with beam elements and appropriate kinematic constrains. Both linear and nonlinear analyses using force-based, fiber section frame elements were performed, and the results were compared with lumped plasticity models. The verifications were completed following the guidelines for the seismic safety assessment of existing bridges, Line 3, Reluis Project and the Eurocodes. The linear dynamic analyses are performed with linear beam elements, whereas the nonlinear time histories are performed with the distributed plasticity, force-based fiber-section model. The results point to the limitations of procedures, above all for existing, irregular, ductile bridges like the one analyzed. At present the nonlinear time history analyses appear to be the most logical choice for the seismic vulnerability assessment, although few issues, in particular concerning damping and accelerogram selection need to be further investigated.

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