Numerical Method for Transverse Seismic Response of Bridges Considering Poundings

Earthquake-induced structural pounding may result in considerable damage or even collapse of colliding structures during severe ground motions. The aim of the paper is to conduct a detailed investigation on pounding-involved transverse seismic response of bridges, paying a special attention to modeling the energy dissipation effects taking place during impact as well as observed in the structural behavior as the result of ground motion excitation. The contact force between girder and shear key is modeled by using Kelvin force-displacement law and linear damping function based on the assumption that the impacting bodies undergo local deformations and the contact forces are continuous. In a continuous analysis, the New mark computational method is employed to solve the motion equation during the period of contact. In this way, the girder-shear key pounding effects and bridge transverse seismic response can be gained.