Performance Based Evaluation of Bridge Substructure in North Mississippi Using Nonlinear FEM and Field Vibration Measurement

Discussion of a Performance - Based Engineering evaluation procedure for an existing interstate highway bridge in north Mississippi. The bridge is in a highly trafficked location near the Memphis Metropolitan area and is reflective of modern design practices in Mississippi. Results are presented of nonlinear damage response and displacement ductility performance of the reinforced concrete bents and their foundations predicted using static finite element (FE) computations. The model considers the composite action of the concrete and the reinforcing steel materials under axial force, shear, torsion and flexure. The performance-based evaluation includes three-dimensional computational simulations of the nonlinear bridge system, including substructures and superstructure. The response spectrum dynamic analysis method will also be carried out on the linear elastic three-dimensional model to predict the linear elastic behavior. Field vibration measurements, including ambient and hammer-impact, were performed to calibrate the models. The computed transfer functions are currently being evaluated to correlate vibration measurements and the Finite element models.