Title: Experimental Investigation on the Seismic Performance of Horizontally Curved Bridges (NEES-2010-0967)

Year Of Curation: 2014

Description: This project is a task within a larger project funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under a contract to the University of Nevada to study the seismic resilience of highway systems. It is the objective of this Project to conduct a comprehensive study of the seismic response of horizontally-curved highway bridges. The ultimate aim is to develop a set of seismic design guidelines for this type of bridge. A secondary aim is to develop a set fragility functions for curved bridges for use in resilience studies of highway systems. The scope therefore includes numerical analyses, parameter studies, and large-scale, shake table experiments on a highly curved bridge to investigate load path in the superstructure, column behavior, abutment interaction (pounding), and the effectiveness of response modification devices, self-centering substructures, and rocking columns. Design guidelines and fragility functions will be developed. Whereas the numerical studies will be conducted for a wide range of curved geometries and structure types, the experimental studies will be on a large-scale model of a highly curved, continuous bridge, with a steel superstructure supported on concrete piers and seat-type abutments.

Award: Caltrans 59A0695FHWA DTFH61-07-C-0003

PIs & CoPIs: Ian Buckle, Ahmad Itani, David Sanders

Dates: November 02, 2009 - April 30, 2013

Organizations:  N/A

Facilities: University of Nevada-Reno, NV, United States

Sponsor: Caltrans - 59A0695

Keywords: Shake Table, Curved Bridge, Seismic Isolation, Seismic Response, Steel Plate Girder Bridge, live load, Hybrid Isolation, Abutment Interaction, rocking foundation

Publications: 

"Seismic Performance of Curved Steel Plate Girder Bridge with Seismic Isolation"

"Assessment of Foundation Rocking Behavior in Reducing the Seismic Demand on Horizontally Curved Bridges"

"The Effect of Live Load on the Seismic Response of Bridges"

• Ahmad Itani, Ian Buckle, David Sanders (2017), "Experimental Investigation on the Seismic Performance of Horizontally Curved Bridges (NEES-2010-0967)," https://datacenterhub.org/deedsdv/publications/view/499.