Numerical assessment of the influence of foundation pinning, deck resistance, and 3D site geometry on the response of bridge foundations to demands of liquefaction-induced lateral soil deformation

The 2010 Maule earthquake in Chile caused extensive lateral spreading at the site of the Mataquito river bridge. The surface soil deformation patterns and relatively minor structural damage to the bridge observed at this site suggest that foundation pinning effects played a prominent role in the overall response of the bridge abutments to the lateral spreading. 3D finite element analysis of a Mataquito river bridge abutment is used to examine the role of foundation pinning, lateral bridge deck resistance, the deck expansion gap, and the 3D site geometry on the response of the abutment and approach embankment to a simulated lateral spreading event. A parameter study using a second set of 3D finite element models is conducted in order to further investigate the influence of 3D geometric site effects, such as the width of the embankment crest and thickness of the non-liquefiable crust, on the response of deep foundations to kinematic demands consistent with lateral spreading. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.