SEISMIC ANALYSIS AND RETROFITTING OF BRIDGES BY USING FRAGILITY CURVES

Abstract

Bridges, integral to transportation networks, face significant challenges from seismic events, impacting infrastructure resilience and public safety. This study focuses on developing fragility curves for bridges, providing a quantitative link between ground motion intensity and structural damage probability. Fragility curves offer insights into seismic vulnerability, considering factors like structural design, material properties, and local seismic conditions. The research explores various fragility curve development methods, emphasizing analytical approaches, and details Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) as a vital tool. IDA, a parametric structural analysis, is employed to forecast bridge seismic responses, facilitating the derivation of fragility curves. The methodology guides bridge-specific IDA, involving seismic hazard assessment, structural modeling, and performance metric identification. By systematically evaluating fragility curves and considering retrofitting options, informed decisions can enhance the seismic resilience of bridges, contributing to the broader field of seismic risk assessment and infrastructure resilience. Key Words: resilience, Incremental Dynamic Analysis, retrofitting.