A new methodology to assess the structural capacity of bridge portfolios: application in Northeastern Brazilian bridges

Abstract

This article presents a new proposal to estimate structural capacity models for bridge portfolios. A common approach is the use of ductility-based capacity models. Herein, a ductility replacement for curvature or drift as engineering demand parameters is conducted, as variability within the bridge’s classes is considered in the results and multidirectional pushover analyses are performed to assess a bi-directional load scenario. Application of the methodology is exemplified for an inventory of Northeastern Brazilian bridges. Parametric analyses are performed by varying the reinforcement ratios to estimate the capacity limit states within the range of values used. These results from probabilistic models define the capacity limit state that can be used to perform vulnerability assessment of bridges to different hazard sources, such as earthquakes.

Seismic fragility assessment of typical bridges in Northeastern Brazil

“…The quantitative values of the damage states for the structural capacity of abutments, decks and bearings are obtained from Mangalathu et al (2017). The structural capacity of columns is obtained from the multidirectional pushover analyses conducted by Cavalcante et al (2023). The limit state capacities for each bridge component is depicted in Table 8.…”