Citation

Williams D, Godden WG. Transp. Res. Rec. 1976; 579: 16-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper reports research on a model relating to the seismic resistance of large multispan curved overcrossings. The feasibility of developing a model that satisfies the necessary similitude requirements of such a complex structure and that is also capable of being tested on the 20 by 20-ft (6.1 by 6.1-m) shaking table is outlined. The small-amplitude dynamic characteristics of the 1:30 scale model of a hypothetical prototype are examined, and for this elastic range the experimental results compared satisfactorily with those obtained analytically. The response of the microconcrete model to a progressively more intense simulated seismic excitation applied horizontally in the asymmetric direction is described. The severe damage at the expansion joints during strong excitation is outlined, and ways of reducing such damage are suggested. The influence of expansion joint design on the seismic behavior points to the need for joint restrainers, of adequate ductility, to tie adjacent girders together.