The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Analytical investigations of the seismic response of long multiple span highway bridges

Tseng, Wen S.; Penzien, Joseph

UCB/EERC-73/12, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1973-06, 200 pages (530/T733/1973)

This report is the second in a series to result from the investigation, "An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Existing Bridge Design Methodology in Providing Adequate Structural Resistance to Seismic Disturbances," sponsored by the U. S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Admin. Descriptions are given of the analytical investigations of the seismic response of long, multiple-span, highway bridge structures of the type which suffered heavy damage during the San Fernando earthquake. Linear and nonlinear mathematical modelling of this type of bridge structural system is presented. A three-dimensional elasto-plastic flexural column model suitable for modelling the coupled inelastic behavior of reinforced concrete bridge columns is described in detail. A nonlinear mathematical model for simulating the nonlinear discontinuous behavior of bridge expansion joints is also presented. Then, appropriate linear and nonlinear analytical procedures are described for determining the seismic response of this type of bridge structure. Nonlinear seismic responses are presented for three prototype, long, multiple-span, reinforced concrete highway overcrossing structures.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-73-12.pdf (5 MB)