MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Seismic Vulnerability Analysis of Bridges in Mountainous States
Authors:	Matt Hardman, Thomas Wilson, and Suren Chen
University:	Colorado State University
Publication Date:	Sep 2013
Report #:	MPC-13-255
Project #:	MPC-342
TRID #:	01493300
Keywords:	earthquake resistant design, highway bridges, mountains, performance tests, scour, seismicity, simulation, structural analysis, traffic loads

Abstract

Depending on the location, highway bridges can often support considerable amounts of traffic. Due to the limitations on current earthquake forecasting techniques, a normal amount of traffic will also typically remain on a bridge when an earthquake occurs. In addition to traffic, scour effects are also a potential hazard to bridge piers that may simultaneously impact the structural integrity of the bridge together with seismic loads. Although a few studies investigating the combined effect of extreme and service loads have been conducted on long-span bridges or in high-seismic zones, the studies on typical short- and medium-span bridges in low and moderate seismic zones are rare. A general dynamic simulation methodology is introduced to study the combined realistic service and extreme loads on short- and medium-span bridges. As the initial effort studied the bridge performance under multiple service and extreme loads, this study sheds some light on more comprehensive studies for the future.

How to Cite

Hardman, Matt, Thomas Wilson, and Suren Chen. Seismic Vulnerability Analysis of Bridges in Mountainous States, MPC-13-255. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2013.