Optimum seismic performance estimation of integrated multiple steel pipes bridge pier connected by shear panel damper with ANN method

This paper discusses the optimum seismic performance estimation analysis of the integrated multiple steel pipes bridge pier connected by shear panel damper (SPD). The optimization result to be expected to result in an easier structural design for the practical engineer. In this study, 405 different structural configurations with 35 and more variations of SPD thickness to be analyzed by non-linear static cyclic in order to quantify its energy dissipation. The optimum energy dissipation to be assumed as analogous with best objective seismic perfor- mance in order avoiding time consumption of numerical analysis. Furthermore, the SPD’s thickness related optimum energy dissipation of each structural configuration was successfully predicted by multi-parameter es- timation analysis with the artificial neural network (ANN) method. As the result, the R-value and the average error value of the estimated optimum SPD’s thickness compared with analytical result were 0.988 and 2.38%, respectively. With the estimated empirical equation result, the practical engineer could determine the structural configuration in the optimum seismic performance easily.