Finite Element Analysis of the Application of Synthetic Fiber Ropes to Reduce Seismic Response of Simply Supported Single Span Bridges

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dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Robert Paulen
dc.contributor.committeechairPlaut, Raymond H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCousins, Thomas E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRoberts-Wollmann, Carin L.en
dc.contributor.departmentCivil Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:41:36Zen
dc.date.adate2005-08-05en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:41:36Zen
dc.date.issued2005-07-07en
dc.date.rdate2005-08-05en
dc.date.sdate2005-07-18en
dc.description.abstractMovement of a bridge superstructure during a seismic event can result in damage to the bridge or even collapse of the span. An incapacitated bridge is a life-safety issue due directly to the damaged bridge and the possible loss of a life-line. A lost bridge can be expensive to repair at a time when a region's resources are most strained and a compromised commercial route could result in losses to the regional economy. This thesis investigates the use of Snapping-Cable Energy Dissipators (SCEDs) to restrain a simply supported single span bridge subjected to three-dimensional seismic loads. SCEDs are synthetic fiber ropes that undergo a slack to taut transition when loaded. Finite element models of six simply supported spans were developed in the commercial finite element program ABAQUS. Two seismic records of the 1940 Imperial Valley and 1994 Northridge earthquakes were scaled to 0.7g PGA and applied at the boundaries of the structure. The SCEDs were modeled as nonlinear springs with an initial slackness of 12.7mm. Comparisons of analyses without SCEDs were made to determine how one-dimensional, axial ground motion and three-dimensional ground motion affect bridge response. Analysis were then run to determine the effectiveness of the SCEDs at restraining bridge motion during strong ground motion. The SCEDs were found to be effective at restraining the spans during strong three-dimensional ground motion.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-07182005-141918en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07182005-141918/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/34051en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectSynthetic Fiber Ropesen
dc.subjectSpringsen
dc.subjectBridgeen
dc.subjectCable Restraineren
dc.subjectSeismicen
dc.titleFinite Element Analysis of the Application of Synthetic Fiber Ropes to Reduce Seismic Response of Simply Supported Single Span Bridgesen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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