Abstract
In order to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of a railway bridge, a nonlinear finite element model of typical three-span continuous beam bridge on the Sichuan-Tibet railway in China was built. It further aimed at performing a probabilistic seismic demand analysis based on the seismic performance of the above-mentioned bridge. Firstly, the uncertainties of bridge parameters were analyzed while a set of finite element model samples were formulated with Latin hypercube sampling method. Secondly, under Wenchuan earthquake ground motions, an incremental dynamic method (IDA) analysis was performed, and the seismic peak responses of bridge components were recorded. Thirdly, the probabilistic seismic demand model for the bridge principal components under the prerequisite of two different kinds of bearing, with and without seismic isolation, was generated. Finally, comparison was drawn to further ascertain the effect of two different kinds of bearings on the fragility components. Based on the reliability theory, results were presented concerning the seismic fragility curves.
Highlights
In recent years, with the rapid development of China’s western railway network, a large number of railway lines have emerged in the western regions
This paper studies a three-span continuous beam bridge (40 m + 64 m + 40 m) on the Sichuan-Tibet railway that is under construction
The seismic fragility curves for dangerous components of the bridge were generated, and the seismic behavior was evaluated, along with the comparison made about the effects of two different bearing types on bridge structure vulnerability
Summary
With the rapid development of China’s western railway network, a large number of railway lines have emerged in the western regions. There have been frequent seismic activities in the western regions in recent years, such as 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (M8.0), 2010 Yushu earthquake (M7.1), and 2013 Lushan earthquake (M7.0) These factors would seriously challenge the seismic safety of typical three-span continuous beam bridges on the Sichuan-Tibet railway. The above studies mainly focused on highway or railway supported beam bridges or small-span continuous beam highway bridges with low piers, while little attention has been paid to the seismic vulnerability of common high-pier, large-span continuous beam railway bridges When it comes to the effects of different bearing types on the seismic vulnerability of continuous beam bridges, relevant studies have been seldom presented. The seismic fragility curves for dangerous components of the bridge were generated, and the seismic behavior was evaluated, along with the comparison made about the effects of two different bearing types on bridge structure vulnerability
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