Effects of Spatial Variation of Ground Motion (SVGM) on Seismic Vulnerability of Ultra-high Tower and Multi-tower Cable-stayed Bridges

Abstract

This study focused on the influence of SVGM on the vulnerability of an ultra-high tower cable-stayed bridge. Components and system vulnerability analysis of the bridge with longitudinal constraint and floating structural systems was conducted, considering nine combinations of wave passages, sites and incoherence effects. Results generated by these combinations showed that bridge components and systems suffered the greatest damage under conditions where the soil changes from firm to soft and with the lowest incoherence coefficient. Moreover, compared with uniform excitation, the damage probabilities in a longitudinal constraint structure decreased, while a floating structure was found to be more threatened.