A study on preventing the fall of skew and curved bridge decks by using rubber bearings

The paper deals with preventing the collapse of deck structures of skew and curved bridges<br />during earthquakes, by the means of supporting the bridges by rubber bearings and permitting pounding<br />between the decks and the abutments. Seismic response during pounding is characterized by various<br />phenomena, such as the caging of bridge decks between abutments during an earthquake or decks<br />popping out. These behaviors depend on only a small difference in seismic intensity. Regarding the global<br />characteristics of a seismic response, smaller clearance between a deck and its abutments results in smaller<br />impact damage of the abutments as well as lesser deformation of the rubber bearings. Similarly, smaller<br />clearance between a deck and the side blocks results in smaller damage. The stiffnesses of the bearings<br />and the stiffness ratio between them control the deck displacement. In short to medium length bridges,<br />zero clearance between a deck and the abutments or the deck and the side blocks is the most effective<br />way in preventing the deck from falling and limits the damage to the abutments or the side blocks.