Development and validation of p‐y modeling approach for seismic response predictions of highway bridges |
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| Authors: | Yazhou Xie Yili Huo Jian Zhang |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.;2. Bentley Systems Inc, Carlsbad, CA, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | This study aims to realistically simulate the seismic responses of typical highway bridges in California with considerations of soil–structure interaction effects. The p‐y modeling approaches are developed and validated for embankments and pile foundations of bridges. The p‐y approach models the lateral and vertical foundation flexibility with distributed p‐y springs and associated t‐z and q‐z springs. Building upon the existing p‐y models for pile foundations, the study develops the nonlinear p‐y springs for embankments based on nonlinear 2D and 3D continuum finite element analysis under passive loading condition along both longitudinal and transverse directions. Closed‐form expressions are developed for two key parameters, the ultimate resistant force pult and the displacement y50, where 0.5pult is reached, of embankment p‐y models as functions of abutment geometry (wall width and height, embankment fill height, etc.) and soil material properties (wall‐soil friction angle, soil friction angle, and cohesion). In order to account for the kinematic and site responses, depth‐varying ground motions are derived and applied at the free‐end of p‐y springs, which reflects the amplified embankment crest motion. The modeling approach is applied to simulate the seismic responses of the Painter Street Bridge and validated through comparisons with the recorded responses during the 1992 Petrolia earthquake. It is demonstrated that the flexibility and motion amplification at end abutments are the most crucial modeling aspects. The developed p‐y models and the modeling approach can effectively predict the seismic responses of highway bridges. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | seismic response analysis highway bridges p‐y model soil– structure interaction embankment kinematic response |
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