Elastic-plastic time-history analysis of steel-tube stiff-frame arch bridge without inner filling concrete

Abstract

Based on a case study of a typical arch bridge with hollow steel tube and stiffness frame located in the high intensity region of western China, this paper adopts the onlinear time- history method to analyze the structural response of the overall bridge elastic-plastic model under seismic action. Under the force of Wolong wave in Wenchuan Earthquake, the main load-bearing members of the structure have a good seismic performance. Only part of the columns on the main arch ring enter the plastic hinge state for energy dissipation, and the lower columns have a more obvious energy dissipation effect than the higher ones. The result indicates that the design idea of structure which is similar to that of strong column and weak beam in ductility design, has the characteristics of “strong arch and weak beam” and can therefore improve the ability of structure to resist collapse under earthquake action.