Nonlinear dynamic analysis of Meloland Road Overpass using three-dimensional continuum modeling approach

• A 3D nonlinear continuum model of the instrumented Meloland Road Overpass is developed.
• The model incorporates foundation soils, piles, embankments, and the bridge structure.
• The computed and recorded bridge accelerations are compared for two major earthquakes.
• Quite good agreement is observed between the recorded and computed response.
• Displacements, rockings, and bending moments are also evaluated and discussed.

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) continuum nonlinear analysis of the Meloland Road Overpass (MRO) near El Centro, California. The modeling methodology and the computational tools are discussed in detail. The performance of the computational model is evaluated by comparing the computed responses with the responses recorded at the bridge site during the 1979 Imperial Valley and 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquakes. Amongst the recorded earthquake events at the bridge site, these two events caused the strongest shaking. The comparison shows that the 3D model is potentially an effective tool for detailed analysis of a full bridge system including foundation soils, pile foundations, embankments, supporting columns, and the bridge structure itself in a unified system without relying on any ancillary models such as Winkler springs. Additional response parameters such as displacements, rockings, and bending moments are also evaluated although none of these was measured during the seismic events.