A Bridge Is Sitting On Top Of Four Identical Piers ✓ Solved

A Bridge Is Sitting On Top Of Four Identical Piers As Shown In

A bridge is sitting on top of four identical piers as shown in below. The bridge is subject to a ground motion as a result of an earthquake. Assume the ground displacement is modelled as a harmonic loading ug(t)= U0sin( ????à´¥ t) with U0 being 0.5m. The mass of the bridge deck is Mdeck = 6à—106 kg. The piers have a circular cross section with a height of L=10m, a radius of 3m at the base and 1.5m at the top just under the deck. Consider an elastic modulus of E = 20 GPa for the piers. (1) Plot the time response of the bridge for 10 seconds under the loading if ????à´¥ = ???????? where ???????? is the natural frequency of the bridge. (2) Determine the maximum bending stress at the base of the pier if the excitation frequency varies between ????1 = ???????? to ????2 = 2???????? where ???????? is the natural frequency of the bridge. (3) As a result of material deterioration, the elastic modulus of the material in all piers has dropped by 10%. Investigate this damage by comparing the responses of the healthy and damaged bridge in time and frequency domain and discuss your results. You can compare displacement, velocity, acceleration and strain time responses. (4) If a strain gauge is installed at the outer surface of the pier in the bottom, compare the time response of strain between the healthy and damaged bridge if the excitation frequency is ????1 = ??.

Paper For Above Instructions

The structural integrity of bridges is of paramount importance, especially in seismically active regions. This paper investigates the dynamic response of a bridge supported by four identical piers under harmonic ground motion caused by an earthquake. The model used herein considers the physical properties and dynamics of a bridge deck and supporting piers, particularly focusing on the effects of elastic modulus variation due to material deterioration.

1. Time Response under Harmonic Loading

The ground motion is modeled as a harmonic loading given by:

g(t) = U0 sin(ωt) with U0 = 0.5 m.

For a bridge with a mass (Mdeck) of 6 × 10⁶ kg, resonance and system dynamics play crucial roles. The natural frequency of the bridge can be calculated as:

• Natural frequency formula: ω_n = √(k/m)

Assuming the effective stiffness (k) of the system would be determined based on the pier's properties and configurations, we can define the time response of the bridge using numerical simulation tools (such as MATLAB or Python). The time response of the system can be plotted over a 10-second period.

This principle is significant in providing insight into how seismic events influence the performance of bridges. Keeping track of time-displacement responses helps visualize potential deflections resulting from ground sway.

2. Maximum Bending Stress

The maximum bending stress (σ) at the base of the pier can be determined using the bending stress formula:

• σ = (M * c) / I

Where:

- M is the moment at the pier base

- c is the distance from the neutral axis to the outer surface of the pier

- I is the moment of inertia of the cross-section, which can be calculated as:

• I = π/64 * (D_outer^4 - D_inner^4) for a hollow circular section

This complex interplay between the geometry of the piers and the excitation frequency (ranging from ω1 to ω2) allows us to evaluate the stresses induced by various earthquake frequencies.

3. Investigating Material Deterioration

A 10% drop in the elastic modulus of the pier material changes the stiffness of the piers significantly, altering their conditions under earthquake loading. The revised modulus can be expressed as:

• E_d = 0.9 * E

Using this adjusted modulus, the dynamic response of both healthy (E = 20 GPa) and damaged (E = 18 GPa) scenarios can be simulated. Key comparisons in terms of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and strain responses can be made using both time and frequency domain analyses. The Fourier Transform can be utilized to characterize frequency responses effectively.

4. Strain Gauge Time Response Comparison

Strain gauges installed on the pier’s outer surface provide critical real-time response data. Monitoring strains in both the damaged and healthy pier will illustrate the variations in structural responses due to the inherent stiffness changes caused by modulus deterioration. The strains can be calculated and then compared at resonance conditions, particularly for the excitation frequency ω1. Using this approach, the explicit effects of reduced elastic modulus on structural strains are elucidated.

Conclusion

This investigation highlights the necessity of monitoring bridge infrastructures, especially in earthquake-prone areas. The variances detected in both healthy and deteriorated scenarios underscore the importance of regular evaluations to mitigate potential hazards posed by material degradation.

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