SEISMIC DAMAGE ASSESSMENT MODEL AND METHOD BASED ON PUSHOVER ANALYSIS FOR BRIDGES

Push-over analysis is becoming an accepted method for the seismic evaluations of structures. The popularity of this approximate, nonlinear static analysis method is due to its conceptual simplicity and ability to graphically described a structure's capacity and demand. A Ghobarah proposed an approach to evaluate the amage index for multi-storey buildings by using results of twice pushover analysis. In this paper, an improved method of the pushover damage model for standard bridge is proposed. This method can, without complex nonlinear dynamic analysis, describe nonlinear properties of structures by a simplified approach and can estimate the damage degee when the structures subjected to earthquakes with different intensities. The analysis of a double column pier has proved that this damage assessment model can give a simple, reasonable and consistent damage indicator for structures.