Seismic Fragility Analysis of a Bridge System Considering the Correlation of Components of the PSC Bridge

In the traditional bridge seismic fragility analysis, the criterion for judging the structural damage state is clear. That is to say, when the damage index exceeds a specific value, the structure is judged to enter the new damage state. However, the actual condition is that the boundary of structural damage is not clear but fuzzy. Taking a three-span V-shaped continuous girder bridge as an example, the damage process of the structure is described by fuzzy mathematics. Considering the uncertainties of ground motion and structure itself, a seismic fragility analysis method is established, which can consider the randomness of bridge itself, seismic load, and structural failure fuzziness simultaneously. Finally, the improved product of conditional marginal (I-PCM) method for fragility analysis of bridge system is further optimized and improved. The new improved method is used to form the seismic fragility curves of bridge structure system. The results show that it is possible to underestimate the potential seismic fragility of bridge components and system without considering the structural fuzzy failure criteria; the fragility curves formed by different membership functions are obviously different; the new system fragility analysis method can significantly improve the analysis accuracy.

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Comparison of steel frames with RWS and WFP beam-to-column connections through seismic fragility analysis

Advances in Structural Engineering ◽

10.1177/1369433220977284 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 136943322097728

Author(s):

Haoran Yu ◽

Weibin Li

Keyword(s):

Limit State ◽

Pushover Analysis ◽

Steel Frames ◽

Fragility Analysis ◽

Structural Safety ◽

Seismic Fragility ◽

Fe Modelling ◽

Collapse Resistance ◽

Seismic Collapse ◽

Probabilistic Seismic Demand

Reduced web section (RWS) connections and welded flange plate (WFP) connections can both effectively improve the seismic performance of a structure by moving plastic hinges to a predetermined location away from the column face. In this paper, two kinds of steel frames—with RWS connections and WFP connections—as well as different frames with welded unreinforced flange connections were studied through seismic fragility analysis. The numerical simulation was conducted by using multiscale FE modelling. Based on the incremental dynamic analysis and pushover analysis methods, probabilistic seismic demand analysis and seismic capability analysis were carried out, respectively. Finally, combined with the above analysis results, probabilistic seismic fragility analysis was conducted on the frame models. The results showed that the RWS connection and WFP connection (without double plates) have little influence on reducing the maximum inter-storey drift ratio under earthquake action. RWS connections slightly reduce the seismic capability in non-collapse stages and improve the seismic collapse resistance of a structure, which exhibits good structural ductility. WFP connections can comprehensively improve the seismic capability of a structure, but the seismic collapse resistance is worse than that of RWS connections when the structure has a large number of storeys. The frame with WFP connections has a lower failure probability at every seismic limit state, while the frame with RWS connections sacrifices some of its structural safety in non-collapse stages to reduce the collapse probability.

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