Fall 2013

Dynamic Response of Bridge Piers subjected to Vehicular Impact
by Kaniz Roksana

Numerical analyses are performed on a model RC Bridge pier and a steel footbridge pier subjected to impact loading from ship and vehicular loads. The structures are designed initially for static loads only and nonlinear structural dynamic analyses are performed using the software ABAQUS and a simplified program written in FORTRAN. The results obtained from both analyses are found to be reasonably close to each other, thus validating the results. Parametric study is performed by varying the vehicular velocities. The large deflections obtained from the analyses show the potential damage or collapse the structures may be subjected to.