Exploring a generalized nonlinear multi-span bridge system subject to multi-support excitation using a Bouc-Wen hysteretic model

Abstract

This paper presents a generalized reduced-order nonlinear model subjected to multi-support seismic excitation. The hysteretic, nonlinear, relationship of piers is phenomenologically captured by a calibrated Bouc-Wen model. This generalized reduced-order model is benchmarked against legacy physical experimental tests performed at the University of Bristol.A deterministic approach using real spatiotemporal ground motions recorded at the SMART-1 array, Taiwan, is employed as an alternative to a stochastic methodology used in current provision codes. This is so that the influence of nonlinearity and ground motion aleatory and epistemic effects are fully captured. Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) is then performed to identify the performance levels at which this system transitions from elastic to inelastic behaviour. A parametric study is then performed to explore the effect of the spatial variability of the ground motion while bridge alignment, valley profile and ground motion intensity are modified. Results indicate that bridges over shallow valleys with a central rise are prone to significant analysis errors if multi-support excitation is not employed.

Dynamic Compression Simulation of Magnetorheological Elastomer Using Bouc-Wen Hysteretic Model

“…They proved that the new method increases the estimation accuracy in terms of the constraint effect of respected parameters. Meibodi and Alexander (2020) [5] use the Bouc-Wen model to capture the hysteretic nonlinear relationship of piers of a multi-span bridge subjected to seismic excitation. They showed that the computational efficiency of the modelling of the multi-span bridge greatly improved as compared to typical finite element analysis (FEA) by introducing the Bouc-Wen element within the model.…”

Multi-pulse decomposition for nonlinear seismic analysis of structural systems

“…Both near-fault and far-fault ensembles are used as input. The non-dimensionalized hysteretic Bouc-Wen model ( [36], [37], [38]) is used to model the inelastic behaviour of SDOF structures:…”