NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title
Methodology for the Dynamic Analysis of Bridge/Abutment/Backfill Systems Subjected to Traveling Seismic Waves.
File
PB83189357.pdf
Author(s)
Dendrou, B. D.
Source
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., March 1983, 254 p.
Identifying Number(s)
AA-R-8113-5470
Abstract
This report describes an advanced methodology (BASSIN), for analyzing traveling seismic wave effects on the dynamic response of an arbitarily-configured, elastic bridge system (comprised of a road deck, piers, abutments, backfill, etc.). A substructuring approach has been used to formulate BASSIN; in this, the bridge system is represented using a three-dimensional finite element model, and the underlying soil is depicted using a boundary element approach based on elastic half-space theory. Seismic excitations are induced by plane body waves or Raleigh waves with arbitrary direction of incidence, wavelength, and amplitude. BASSIN allows for a fully deformable interface between the bridge system and the underlying soil, and incorporates a special modal truncation procedure to account for higher mode response characteristics.
Keywords
Elastic theory; Bridges (Structures); BASSIN 2 computer program; Seismic waves; BASSIN 1 computer program; Computer applications; Dynamic response; Earthquake engineering; Backfills; Computer programming; Soil structure interactions; Earthquakes; Bridge abutments