Multivariable probabilistic seismic demand models for parametric fragility prediction of isolated bridges portfolios under pulse-like GMs

Abstract

The wide application of friction isolation bearings has led to a rapid increase in the number of frictional isolated bridges. Therefore, the traditional method of seismic fragility analysis based on nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) may not suitable for bridge portfolios. For this purpose, this study developed a multivariable probabilistic seismic demand model (MV-PSDM) for friction isolation bearings conditioned on the earthquake parameters (peak pulse velocity, pulse period), bearing parameters (effective radius) and pier parameters (bending stiffness, pier numbers, pier height), in which a novel formula is adopted to calculate the seismic demand and the dispersion is also estimated. This MV-PSDM can be applied to investigate the influence of various parameters (earthquake parameters, friction bearing parameters, pier parameters) on the seismic demand, sensitivity and the vulnerable range of the bearing. Finally, an efficient parametric fragility prediction method for friction isolation bearing is proposed based on the MV-PSDM, and the flow chart is also provided. In this method, only earthquake parameters, bearing parameters and pier parameters are required to obtain the seismic fragility of friction isolation bearings, which avoids the FE modeling and NLTHA.