Dimension and Frequency Profiles of Concrete Highway Bridges in New Madrid Region of Southeastern Missouri

Abstract

The results of a study funded by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program are presented. The first objective of this study was the development of a database for all 211 highway bridges along I-55 in the New Madrid region of southeastern Missouri. Profiles for five key dimension parameters (which are stored in the database) were developed, and the results for concrete highway bridges are presented. The second objective was to perform field ambient vibration analyses on 25 typical highway bridge spans along the I-55 corridor to determine the fundamental vertical and lateral frequencies of the bridge spans measured. These 25 spans included six reinforced concrete slab spans and two reinforced concrete box-girder spans. The third objective was to use these bridge frequency results in conjunction with the dimension parameters stored in the database to develop empirical formulas for estimating bridge fundamental natural frequencies. These formulas were applied to all 211 Interstate highway bridges in southeastern Missouri. Profiles for both fundamental vertical and lateral frequencies were then developed, and the results for concrete highway bridges are presented.