Nonlinear inelastic seismic response of slender bridge pier on surface foundation

Abstract eng:
The paper highlights the results of a numerical study of the seismic response of a tall bridge-pier type structure supported on surface foundation. Both the structure and the soil are treated as inelastic materials ⎯ the former capable of developing plastic hinging at its column base, the latter capable of mobilizing bearing-capacity type “failure” mechanisms. Moreover, the geometric nonlinearity arising from the uplifting of the foundation due to the large overturning transmitted moment is treated rigorously. Exciting a typical such system with two actual earthquake records, it is shown that whereas a conventionally-designed system may suffer substantial structural plastic permanent rotation at the column base (and thereby even collapse in a very strong event), a more-daring unconventional design which specifically allows inelasticity/nonlinearity in the soil and the soil–foundation interface to take place suffers only permanent settlement and in some cases permanent tilt of the foundation without suffering any structural distress.

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