Seismic Behavior of Long-Span Connected Structures under Multi-Supported and Multi-Dimensional Earthquake Excitations

Abstract

Seismic behaviors of long-span connected structures under multi-dimensional and earthquake excitation while considering wave passage effect are investigated through both numerical simulation and a shaking table test on a scaled model. It is found that seismic responses will be increased significantly if multi-dimensional earthquake excitation is considered; and wave-passage effect has diverse influence on different elements. Also special attentions should be paid to those elements near connections between the main tower and the corridor which inertial forces may change a lot when subjected to Traveling wave excitation with different apparent velocities. Moreover, the vertical acceleration responses of the corridor can be increased significantly due to wave passage effect. Therefore, it is necessary for aseismic design of long-span connected structure to take into account multi-dimensional earthquake components and multi-support earthquake excitations with different apparent velocities.