Nonlinear Soil–Abutment–Bridge Structure Interaction for Seismic Performance-Based Design

• Published in: Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering Vol. 133; no. 6; pp. 707 - 720
• Main Authors: Shamsabadi, Anoosh, Rollins, Kyle M, Kapuskar, Mike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY American Society of Civil Engineers 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bridge elements; Bridges; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Exact sciences and technology; Geotechnics; Structural analysis. Stresses; Structure-soil interaction; TECHNICAL PAPERS; Constitutive equation; Earth pressure; Soil-structure interaction; Earthquake effect; Stress strain relation; Nonlinear analysis; Building performance; Highway structures; Bridge abutments; Modeling; Seismic design code; Case study; Embankments; Abutment; Test; Geotechnical models; Structure soil interaction; Constitutive models; Seismic design; Application; Geotechnics; Road bridge
• ISSN: 1090-0241; 1943-5606
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:6(707)

Current seismic design of bridges is based on a displacement performance philosophy using nonlinear static pushover analysis. This type of bridge design necessitates that the geotechnical engineer predict the resistance of the abutment backfill soils, which is inherently nonlinear with respect to the displacement between soil backfill and the bridge structure. This paper employs limit-equilibrium methods using mobilized logarithmic-spiral failure surfaces coupled with a modified hyperbolic soil stress–strain behavior (LSH model) to estimate abutment nonlinear force-displacement capacity as a function of wall displacement and soil backfill properties. The calculated force-displacement capacity is validated against the results from eight field experiments conducted on various typical structure backfills. Using LSH and experimental data, a simple hyperbolic force-displacement (HFD) equation is developed that can provide the same results using only the backfill soil stiffness and ultimate soil capacity. HFD is compatible with current CALTRANS practice in regard to the seismic design of bridge abutments. The LSH and HFD models are powerful and effective tools for practicing engineers to produce realistic bridge response for performance-based bridge design.