Numerical Method for Earthquake-Induced Pounding between Girder and Shear Key. I: Theory

Abstract

Earthquake ground motion can induce out-of-phase vibrations between girders and shear keys, which can result in impact or pounding. The paper investigated pounding between girder and shear key from an analytical perspective. By introducing the initial gap in the analysis model, the elastomer stiffness played a role in the transverse vibration as well. A simplified model of bridge transverse seismic response considering girder-shear key pounding was developed. The equations of motion of the bridge response to transverse ground excitation were assembled and solved using the central difference method. Pounding was simulated using a contact force-based model—Kelvin model. Thus, the girder-shear key pounding effects and bridge transverse seismic response can be obtained by using a step-by-step direct integration the central difference method with the appropriate parameters. The proposed method is very useful in the seismic design of bridge.