Innovative Fragility-Based Method for Failure Mechanisms and Damage Extension Analysis of Bridges

The seismic assessment of existing bridges is the utmost importance to characterise main structural deficiencies, estimate risk, prioritise retrofit interventions, or losses and repair costs in case earthquakes. above tasks require information on damage mechanisms likely occur as well extent over structure. Such types are generally not provided by classical fragility analysis, which mainly focused evaluation global performance bridge. In this paper, a systematic probabilistic methodology for bridge proposed. aims at offering insight into failure most evolution within First, mathematical description proposed analysis methods given, then an application realistic study—a reinforced concrete multi-span simply supported deck link-slab bridge—is illustrate applicability tool. A nonlinear 3D finite element model developed, multiple-stripe (nonlinear dynamic) performed using stochastic bidirectional input. results highlight suitability reveal relations among different (involving piers, bearings, abutments, etc.), expected extent.