Fragility analysis of bridge structures: a global perspective & critical review of past & present trends

Abstract

AbstractBridges are vital to modern transportation infrastructure, providing convenient and efficient access to different locations. However, these structures are susceptible to forces that can cause significant damage and pose a hazard in the event of seismic activity. A country's economy relies heavily on its bridge infrastructure, but many older bridges built before 1970 are showing signs of deterioration due to climate change and other factors. At the time of their construction, seismic design codes did not provide sufficient guidance on proper design and detailing to ensure ductility and capacity, resulting in deficient bridges. This paper provides a brief overview of the literature on the seismic behaviour of bridges and the analytical methods used to evaluate their performance. Various factors that influence the behaviour of different types of bridges are also discussed. This paper aims to establish a theoretical foundation for selecting appropriate methods to analyze bridge structures, prioritizing retrofitting, pre-earthquake planning, and loss measurement tools. The seismic design philosophies and analytical methods are elaborated in-depth, including the methodology to develop fragility curves. The paper also discusses the fragility analysis of retrofitted bridges.