Seismic performance of horizontal swivel system of asymmetric continuous girder bridge

The bridge horizontal swivel system generally adopts a symmetrical structure and uses a spherical hinge structure that can adjust the rotation to complete rotation construction. Because of the complexity of railway lines under bridges, some asymmetrical horizontal swivel systems have been increasingly applied in practical engineering in recent years. This system is more suitable for areas with complex railway lines, reduces the bridge span, and provides better economic benefits. However, it is also extremely unstable. In addition, instability can easily occur under dynamic loads, such as earthquake action and pulsating wind effects. Therefore, it is necessary to study their mechanical behavior. Based on the horizontal swivel system of an 11,000-ton asymmetric continuous girder bridge, the dynamic response of the horizontal swivel system to seismic action was studied using the finite element simulation analysis method. Furthermore, using the Peer database, seismic waves that meet the calculation requirements are screened for time-history analysis and compared to the response spectrum method. The mechanical properties of the structural system during and after rotation were obtained through calculations. During rotation, the seismic response of the structure is greater. To reduce the calculation time cost, an optimization algorithm based on the mode shape superposition method is proposed. The calculation result is 87% that of the time-history analysis, indicating a relatively high calculation accuracy.

Automated summary

The bridge horizontal swivel system generally adopts a symmetrical structure and uses a spherical hinge structure that can adjust the rotation to complete rotation construction. However, due to the complexity of railway lines under bridges, some asymmetrical horizontal swivel systems have been increasingly applied in practical engineering. While this system is more suitable for areas with complex railway lines and provides better economic benefits, it is also extremely unstable, especially under dynamic loads such as earthquakes and pulsating wind effects.