Reliability-based capacity design for reinforced concrete bridge structures

In the seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structures, there should be no brittle failures, such as shear failures, in the components, and a plastic hinge should be formed at the bottom of the bridge pier. These are important concepts in capacity design to guarantee the safety of bridges subjected to severe earthquakes. These concepts can maximise post-event operability and minimise the cost of repairing bridges after a severe earthquake. In this article, a reliability-based methodology to carry out capacity design with partial factors is proposed and applied to the seismic design of RC bridge structures. This ensures that (i) all of the components undergo the desired ductile failure mode, (ii) the damage due to an earthquake is induced only at the bottom of the bridge pier and (iii) the probability of failure is at most equal to a specified value.     

System reliability evaluation of in-service cable-stayed bridges subjected to cable degradation

Abstract

The cables in a cable-stayed bridge are critical components supporting the long-span girders and ensuring their functionality. However, cables are prone to fatigue damage and atmospheric corrosion, which directly affect the bridge safety. This study presents a framework for system reliability evaluation of in-service cable-stayed bridges subjected to cable degradation. The effect of cable strength degradation on the system reliability is demonstrated through simulation on a parallel-series system representation. Learning machines are utilised to approximate the non-linear and dynamic response functions of critical components due to cable rupture, and the system reliability is finally evaluated from the event tree established by the β-unzipping method. Both short-span and long-span cable-stayed bridges are selected as prototypes to investigate the influence of cable degradation on the system reliability. On this basis it is revealed that cable degradation can significantly influence the collapse mechanism of a cable-stayed bridge and thereby lead to a significant reduction in the system reliability. This phenomenon is associated with cable spacing, where a spare cable system seems more sensitive to cable gradation. It is demonstrated that the consideration of cable corrosion and correlation is essential for lifetime safety evaluation of in-service cable-stayed bridges.     

Uplift of elastomeric bearings in isolated bridges subjected to longitudinal seismic excitations

Bearings are used to isolate bridge substructures from the lateral forces induced by creep, shrinkage and seismic displacements. They are set in one or two support lines parallel to the transverse axis of the pier cap and are typically anchored to the deck and to the pier cap. This detailing makes them susceptible to possible tensile loading. During an earthquake, the longitudinal displacements of the deck induce rotations to the pier caps about a transverse axis, which in turn cause tensile (uplift) and compressive displacements to the bearings. Tensile displacements of bearings, due to the pier rotations, have not been addressed before and questions about the severity of this uplift effect arise, because tensile loading of bearings is strongly related to elastomer cavitation and ruptures. An extended parametric study revealed that bearing uplift may occur in isolated bridges, while uplift effect is more critical for the bearings on shorter piers. Tensile displacements of bearings were found to be significantly increased when the isolators were eccentrically placed with respect to the axis of the pier and when flexible isolators were used for the isolation of the bridge. The results of this study cannot be generalised as bridge response is strongly case-dependent and the approach has limitations, which are related to the modelling approach and to the fact that emphasis was placed on the longitudinal response of bridges.     

Design criteria for impact factors based on dynamic on-site data in railway bridges

To evaluate the dynamic behaviours of bridges, many researchers have analysed interactions between vehicles and bridges with numerical methods instead of field loading tests. However, conventional numerical methods take too much time and cost to evaluate the impact factor of bridges in design and maintenance practice. The objective of this study was to propose improved design criteria by using impact factors based on natural frequency rather than span length of railway bridges using dynamic field load-carrying capacity test database. The improved design criteria use a different methodology than that outlined in the International Union of Railway specifications Code. Statistical regressions are applied to more easily estimate the natural frequency of a bridge with a span length of 20?m or longer with steel plate girder or truss superstructures. Calculated impact factors were compared to impact factors obtained from field measurements. Results indicated that the improved method could provide a very reliable estimation for actual impact factors. Since the suggested impact factor criteria are conservative, the proposed method can be used in design and management stages to consider dynamic effects of railway bridges in a more intuitive manner.     

桥梁颤振概率性评价的随机有限元法

在桥梁的各种风振形式当中,颤振对桥梁的安全威胁最大,而在各种随机因素作用下的桥梁颤振概率性评价也受到了人们的重视。为了计算大跨度桥梁的颤振失效概率,推出了一种结合有限元分析和可靠度计算理论的随机有限元方法,考虑了质量、刚度、阻尼和颤振导数等随机因素对颤振临界风速的影响,并对我国第一座真正意义上的大跨度海上桥梁——东海大桥颗珠山斜拉桥进行了颤振可靠性分析。     

Fire hazard in transportation infrastructure: Review,assessment, and mitigation strategies

This paper reviews the fire problem in critical transportation infrastructures such as bridges and tunnels. The magnitude of the fire problem is illustrated, and the recent increase in fire problems in bridges and tunnels is highlighted. Recent research undertaken to address fire problems in transportation structures is reviewed, as well as critical factors governing the performance of those structures. Furthermore, key strategies recommended for mitigating fire hazards in bridges and tunnels are presented, and their applicability to practical situations is demonstrated through a practical case study. Furthermore, research needs and emerging trends for enhancing the “state-of-the-art” in this area are discussed.     

考虑板式支座滑移的中小跨度梁式桥振动台试验

基于汶川地震中小跨度梁式桥普遍出现的板式橡胶支座滑移典型震害,采用大比例全桥振动台试验手段探究了考虑板式支座滑移对该类桥梁抗震性能影响。以一座25m跨径的标准简支T梁桥为例,设计了1/4缩尺比的全桥试验模型,选取一条近场脉冲型实际地震动记录作为振动台试验输入,对不同墩梁横向约束体系的结构开展了一系列振动台试验研究。试验结果表明：①强震作用下板式橡胶支座与梁底间会出现摩擦滑移效应,从而在一定程度上对下部结构起到隔震作用;②在地震动较小时,常规横向混凝土挡块可以起到一定限位效果,但在强震作用下,随着板式橡胶支座开始发生滑移,混凝土挡块的限位效果逐渐减弱,同时混凝土挡块还会造成下部结构较大的地震损伤;③新型弹塑性挡块具有良好稳定的滞回耗能能力,可有效控制强震作用下墩梁间最大相对位移需求,减低其震后残余位移,同时弹塑性挡块的屈服还可避免下部结构造成严重地震损伤。