International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 6 Issue 5, July-August 2022 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Investigation of Skew Curved Bridges in Combination

with Skewed Abutments under Seismic Response
Chandrashekhar Khulhare1, P. K. Singhi2
1
Research Scholar, 2Associate Professor,
1,2
Department of Civil Engineering, LNCT, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Chandrashekhar

The present study investigates the seismic response of skew-curved Khulhare | P. K. Singhi "Investigation of
concrete box-girder bridges under free vibrations and forced Skew Curved Bridges in Combination
vibrations. A bridge having in-plan curvature in combination with the with Skewed Abutments under Seismic
skewed abutments is termed as skew-curved bridge. 3-D models of Response" Published in International
Journal of Trend in
the bridge with varying configurations are generated in the
Scientific Research
CSiBridge. The curvature angle for the parametric study has been and Development
varied as 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° in combination with skew angles of 0°, (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-
15°, 30°, 45° and 60°. Modal analysis and response spectrum analysis 6470, Volume-6 |
for all the bridge models has been performed. Modal response of the Issue-5, August
various bridge configurations has been presented in graphical form in 2022, pp.1217- IJTSRD50536
order to have knowledge of the mode shapes, time periods and 1221, URL:
fundamental frequencies of the bridges. Furthermore, mode www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd50536.pdf
participation factor for three orthogonal directions also have been
determined for every configuration of the bridge considered. After Copyright © 2022 by author (s) and
performing response spectrum analysis, variation of out-of-plane International Journal of Trend in
Scientific Research and Development
bending moment, in-plane bending moment, and longitudinal torsion
Journal. This is an Open Access article
along with the span length under horizontal (i.e. longitudinal and distributed under
transverse) and vertical component of seismic excitations has been the terms of the
also presented using graphical representation. Results indicate that Creative Commons
increase in skew angle leads to decrease the time period ratios in first Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
vertical mode of vibration. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

KEYWORDS: Skew-curved bridges, Modal Analysis, Seismic

Analysis, Skew Angle, and Curvature Angle

INTRODUCTION
Bridge is a structure which facilitate a passage over an observed due to severe earthquakes, such as San
obstacle without closing the way under it. The Fernando Earthquake in 1971, Costa Rica
obstacles can be a river; valley, railway, roads etc. Earthquake in 1991, Northridge Earthquake 1994,
and the required passage may be for different purposes Kobe Earthquake in1995, and Chi-Chi Earthquake in
such as railway, pedestrians and roads. As evident by 1999. Skewed and horizontally curved bridges
many past earthquakes, bridges suffer a serious suffered more damages because of the
damage when strong earthquake occurs. Several types superstructure’s rotation or due to shift towards
of seismic failures such as pier failure, expansion outside of the curve line.
joint failure, deck unseating failure, etc. have been

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a) Hospital Overpass Bridge Collapse b) Collapse of Miraflores Overpass

Figure 1.1 Failure of bridges under seismic excitations [4]
In 2010 Maule, Chile, earthquake, two-span Hospital Overpass Bridge with skew angle of 45°, located at
Highway No. 5 suffered damages [4] as shown in figure 1.1(a). These damages occurred due to rotation of deck
which occurred because of skewness. A1 & A2 are two abutments, P1 is the centre pier, D1 & D2 are two
simple spans.
In figure 1.1 (b), the damage of Miraflores Overpass is shown. The acute corner of the outer ring has been
noticed to shift nearly 1.5m towards skewed transverse direction during the earthquake. Due to this transverse
movement, unseating occurred at abutments of Miraflores Overpass which was three skewed overpass bridge in
Santiago.
Skew bridges, curved bridges and skew-curved bridges have complex geometry as compared to straight bridges
and hence the load distribution pattern will be different for these type of bridge structures. Therefore, it is of
utmost importance to examine the seismic behaviour of such kind of bridges. Modal analysis is the first step in
seismic analysis of the structure. Modal analysis makes one aware of structure’s response under free vibrations.
To examine the structure’s response of the structure under forced vibrations, there are several methods. In this
study, response spectrum analysis method has been used to examine the seismic response of skew-curved bridges.
Response spectrum analysis method gives the peak response of the structure and is used when spectrum of
ground motion is available.
In this dissertation, the behaviour of skew-curved bridges under free and forced vibration has been investigated
in CSi Bridge. Three-dimensional finite element models have been modelled and their modelling has been
explained in detail in Chapter 3. Next to modelling, modal analysis and response spectrum analysis has been
carried out for skew-curved bridge models. Modal behaviour of skew-curved bridges i.e. behaviour of skew-
curved bridges under free vibrations has been deliberated in Chapter 4 in brief. Chapter 5 conveys the results of
seismic response of skew curved bridges under different directions of seismic excitaions
Skew Angle and Curvature Angle
Skew angle is the angle between the alignment of the intermediate or end support & normal drawn to the
longitudinal axis of bridge-deck. It is represented by “θ” in figure 1.2(a) and (b). Curvature angle is shown in
figure 1.2(b) which is represented by “β”.

Figure 1.2 Representation of skew angle and curvature angle in different bridge configurations

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Skew and Skew-Curved bridges
There are several kinds of bridge-classifications based on various factors. Based on the alignment, bridges are
classified as straight and skew bridges. Bridges in which the bridge deck and substructure (piers and/or
abutments) alignment are not perpendicular to each other are termed as skew bridges. Figure 1.3 shows the
geometry of skew bridge having skewangle ‘θ’.

Figure 1.3 Skew Bridge Geometry

In horizontally curved bridges i.e. the bridges having in-plan deck curvature; the gravity load itself induces
warping normal stresses, torsional shear stresses, and flexural stresses in the structural components of bridges due
to its complex geometry. Skew-curved bridges are the bridges in which the deck slab have the in-plan curvature in
combination with skewed substructure elements.

Figure 1.4 Skew-Curved Bridge Geometry

Transportation system of any city heavily rely Investigation for seismic response of skew-curved
properly designed skew-curved highway bridges as bridges has been performed based on parameters such
they provide easy access or exit from complex as seismic input and dynamic characteristics of
intersections, which are valuable in dense urban areas structural system. Finally, the response parameters
& they also have ability to conform to existing which affect the seismic behaviour of skew-curved
layouts. Nowadays, skew-curved bridges are mostly bridges under seismic excitations has been also
constructed in modern transportation system of many studied.
cities.
Objectives
Problem Statement To investigate the mode shapes, time periods and
This dissertation aims to investigate the investigate natural frequency of the skew- curved bridges
the modal and seismic behaviour of skew- curved under free vibrations using finite element models.
bridges. When a structure undergoes seismic
To examine the contribution of each mode and
excitations, during that interval a large amount of their mass in affecting the response of the skew-
horizontal force is applied on the structure in short curved bridges by studying the modal
period. Bridge’s behaviour under the effect of applied participation factor and mass participation factor.
seismic force, decides its seismic performance. Under
seismic and serviceloads, behaviour of skew and/or To determine the variations of three principal
curved bridges become more complex due to the moments along with the span for skew- curved
influence of its unconventional geometry. Due to the bridges under longitudinal, transverse and vertical
action of seismic waves, the vibrations occur in the component of seismic excitations usingResponse
bridge system generates internal deformations and Spectrum Analysis.
stresses which governs seismic response of bridge.

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METHODOLOGY and 90°. Modal analysis and Response Spectrum
1. Methodology which has been followed to achieve Analysis for the various skew- curved bridge
the objectives of this dissertation has been configurations have been carried out using finite
discussed in this section. To perform modal element analysis program CSiBridge. To facilitate
analysis and response spectrum analysis of the study of results for both modal and response
skew- curved bridges, 3-D finite element models spectrum analysis of skew-curved bridges, the
have been modelled using the finite element changes have been made in the benchmark bridge
program CSi Bridge. Modal analysis has been which was a horizontally curved concrete box-
carried out first which is then followed by girder bridge
response spectrum analysis. 1. Increase in curvature of the bridge deck leads to
2. In modal analysis, the degree to which the mode decrease the time period ratios of first horizontal
shapes, time periods and mass participation (in-plane) vibration mode of the structure whereas
factors of skew-curved bridges are affected have increase in skew angle, increases the time period
been investigated using finite element models. ratios.
Bent modelling of the bridge models 2. For first longitudinal vibration mode, the time
Intermediate bents of the bridge have been modelled period ratios usually increase with increase in
as three-dimensional frame elements as shown in the both skewness and curvature which signifies the
figure 3.9. Bents consists of two parts i.e. bent cap decrease in natural frequency of the bridge
and the column. Different frame elements have been structures. Therefore, stiffness of the structure
used to model each part. Non-prismatic frame should be increased to increase the natural
elements have been used to model the tapered portion frequency of the structure.
of the bent.
3. Modal analysis indicates time period ratios of
horizontal vibration modes precedes the time
period ratios of vertical vibration modes
irrespective of skewness and curvature of the
bridge.
4. Increase in skew angle causes the time period
ratios to decrease usually in first out of plane
vibration mode whereas increase in curvature
angle causes increase in time period ratios of first
out of plane vibration mode.
Mode participation factor of first in-plane vibration
mode commonly increases with increase in skewness
and curvature which signifies that this mode will
contribute more significantly affect the dynamic
behaviour of the structure as compared to the case of
straight bridge configuration.
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