Evaluation of the Effects of Seismic Retrofitting on the Earthquake Response of Highway Bridges

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The primary objectives of this project are to conduct modeling of currently used retrofit systems using cable restrainer, extensive studies of their effects on the response of highway bridges to earthquake excitations and the investigation of possible improvements of their design so that structural damage to bridges will be minimized or eliminated in future earthquakes The analytical models that will be developed will be used to study the response of retrofitted bridges including the response of the Whitewater Overcrossing (Br. 56-57) to the recent Palm Springs earthquake. The bridge was retrofitted but suffered some damage during the 1986 Palm Springs earthquake. Representative cable-restrained structures that were excited by the Loma Prieta earthquake will also be analyzed. The primary tasks will be the inclusion of retrofit mechanisms in recently developed models to represent the impact between the bridge deck and the abutments during earthquakes and the modification of program NEABS so that it can be used for the analysis of general type retrofitted bridges. This project is coordinated with the program of the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) and practically funded by the Nevada Department of Transportation.