- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Theses and Dissertations /
- Parametric studies on the seismic response of multi-span...
Open Collections
UBC Theses and Dissertations
UBC Theses and Dissertations
Parametric studies on the seismic response of multi-span bridges subjected to stochastic ground motions Patil, Swanand Rajendra
Abstract
In this thesis, parametric studies are performed, to understand the effect of selected input parameters on the seismic response of a multi-span concrete bridge. An existing model of an archetype three-span concrete continuous bridge is analyzed with the Python interpreter of the finite element program OpenSees. Two stochastic ground motion models are employed in Python to generate accelerograms compatible with certain soil properties. An orchestrating algorithm in Python is established to analyze the seismic bridge response over a range of values of the selected input parameters. The parameters are the pier diameter of the bridge, the initial stiffness of the bridge, the stiffness of the deck, the dominant frequency of the soil, and the damping of the soil. The responses monitored in this study are the displacement of the pier, the plastic rotation of a section of the pier, the shear deformation of the bearing pad, and the cumulative energy dissipation. In addition, the effect of randomness in the ground motion generation and the effect of spectral nonstationarity in the ground motions are studied. Three findings stand out from the studies conducted in this thesis. First, amplification in the nonlinear response occurs at ground motion frequencies lower than the natural frequency of the bridge. Reduced post-yield stiffness and permanent deformations in the piers are found to govern this response amplification. Second, randomness in the ground motion generation results in substantial uncertainty in the peak responses. The coefficient of variation of the responses is observed to be as high as 26%. Third, spectral nonstationarity in the ground motion is found to induce higher plastic deformations in the bridge, as compared to the stationary ground motions.
Item Metadata
| Title |
Parametric studies on the seismic response of multi-span bridges subjected to stochastic ground motions
|
| Creator | |
| Supervisor | |
| Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
| Date Issued |
2022
|
| Description |
In this thesis, parametric studies are performed, to understand the effect of selected input
parameters on the seismic response of a multi-span concrete bridge. An existing model of an
archetype three-span concrete continuous bridge is analyzed with the Python interpreter of the
finite element program OpenSees. Two stochastic ground motion models are employed in
Python to generate accelerograms compatible with certain soil properties. An orchestrating
algorithm in Python is established to analyze the seismic bridge response over a range of values
of the selected input parameters. The parameters are the pier diameter of the bridge, the initial
stiffness of the bridge, the stiffness of the deck, the dominant frequency of the soil, and the
damping of the soil. The responses monitored in this study are the displacement of the pier, the
plastic rotation of a section of the pier, the shear deformation of the bearing pad, and the
cumulative energy dissipation. In addition, the effect of randomness in the ground motion
generation and the effect of spectral nonstationarity in the ground motions are studied.
Three findings stand out from the studies conducted in this thesis. First, amplification in
the nonlinear response occurs at ground motion frequencies lower than the natural frequency of
the bridge. Reduced post-yield stiffness and permanent deformations in the piers are found to
govern this response amplification. Second, randomness in the ground motion generation results
in substantial uncertainty in the peak responses. The coefficient of variation of the responses is
observed to be as high as 26%. Third, spectral nonstationarity in the ground motion is found to
induce higher plastic deformations in the bridge, as compared to the stationary ground motions.
|
| Genre | |
| Type | |
| Language |
eng
|
| Date Available |
2022-06-27
|
| Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
| Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
|
| DOI |
10.14288/1.0415728
|
| URI | |
| Degree | |
| Program | |
| Affiliation | |
| Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
| Graduation Date |
2022-11
|
| Campus | |
| Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
| Rights URI | |
| Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International