ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Published Online: 18 February 2010
Page Count: 15

Earthquake Behaviour of Kömürhan Highway Bridge Using a Validated Finite Element Model

Bayraktar, Alemdar
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Karadeniz Technical Univ., Trabzon,

Altunişik, Ahmet Can
Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Karadeniz Technical Univ., Trabzon,

Sevim, Barış
Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Karadeniz Technical Univ., Trabzon,

Türker, Temel
Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Karadeniz Technical Univ., Trabzon,

(Received 2 September 2008; accepted 7 January 2010)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the earthquake behaviour of the Kömürhan Highway Bridge, located at the 51st kilometre of the Elazığ-Malatya highway over the Fırat River, after finite element model updating using operational modal analyses. Finite element models of the bridge are built with the SAP2000 program to obtain analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. The ambient vibration tests are performed using operational modal analysis under traffic loads to attain experimental dynamic characteristics. Vibration data is gathered from both the box girder and bridge deck to compare the results. Measurement time, frequency span, and effective mode number are determined following similar studies and literature. The peak picking method in the frequency domain is used for output-only modal identification. The finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing some uncertainties in the parameters such as material properties and boundary conditions to eliminate the differences between analytical and experimental dynamic characteristics. An analytical model of the bridge after finite element model updating is analyzed using the 1992 Erzincan, Turkey earthquake record, which occurred near the region, to determine the earthquake behaviour of the bridge. At the end of the study, the maximum differences in the natural frequencies are reduced on average from 10 % to 2 %, and a good agreement is found between analytical and experimental natural frequencies and mode shapes by model updating. Also, the variation of internal forces such as bending moment, axial forces, and shear forces for the bridge deck and columns are presented in detail.

Keywords:
ambient vibration test, dynamic characteristics, earthquake behaviour, finite element model updating, Kömürhan Highway Bridge, operational modal analysis, peak picking

Paper ID: JTE102102
DOI: 10.1520/JTE102102
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