Seismic performance assessment of a curved bridge equipped with a new type spring restrainer

Severe damages of curved bridge, such as pounding, unseating of superstructure and pier collapse, have been frequently observed in previous strong earthquakes. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a new type multi-level spring restrainer (MLSR) on reducing the seismic responses of a curved bridge. The optimal parametric values of the device are determined by response surface method (RSM). The numerical models of the curved bridge with and without MLSR are established using OpenSees. Three earthquake records are selected from PEER strong motion database matching the site condition of the bridge. Nonlinear time history analyses are performed for the bridge with and without MLSR. The force-deformation behavior of the bridge components, the relative displacements between adjacent girders, and the maximum pier curvature are evaluated. The numerical results show that the application of MLSR on the curved bridge will not only avoid the pounding and unseating of the superstructure, but also mitigate the pier damages of the bridge.