NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- An Evaluation of the Effects of Traveling Seismic Waves on the Three-Dimensional Response of Structures.
- File
- PB275869.pdf
- Author(s)
- Werner, S. D.; Lee, L. C.; Wong, H. L.; Trifunac, M. D.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. Research Applied to National Needs., October 1977, 161 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- AA-R-7720-4514
- Abstract
- Although usually not considered in design applications, the spatial variations of incident seismic wave motions may, under certain conditions, have a profound influence on the response of structures. To investigate these effects, a new methodology has been developed for analyzing the fully three-dimensional dynamic response of structures that: (1) are above the ground, elastic, and have an arbitrary configuration; (2) are supported on any number of rigid foundations of arbitrary shape that rest on the surface of an elastic half-space; and (3) are subjected to input motions from body or surface waves with arbitrary excitation frequencies and angles of incidence. The superstructure is represented using a finite element model; foundation/soil interaction effects are analyzed using a continuum method. This report describes the general methodology and presents an example of its application to the analysis of a simple single-span bridge/soil system subjected to incident SH-waves. The analysis results clearly demonstrate the importance of traveling wave effects and the influence of different angles of incidence on the three-dimensional bridge response characteristics.
- Keywords
- Bridges; Earthquake resistant structures; CAST1 computer program; Earth movements; Dynamic response; Ground motion; Earthquake engineering; Bridge foundations; Computer programming; Computer aided analysis; Soil dynamics; Soil structure interactions; Earthquakes