SEISMIC MITIGATION OF BRIDGES BY USING VISCOELASTIC DAMPERS

The characteristics of the energy-absorbing capacities of the viscoelastic damper and its effect on the seismic mitigation of bridges during earthquakes are studied. To understand the behavior of the structure with added dampers, a new analytical model for the viscoelastic damper is developed which takes into account the earthquake-like and wind-like loadings and the temperature effect. An advanced finite element formulation for the viscoelastic damper is also derived. In this study the behavior of a bridge equipped with viscoelastic dampers is examined while it is subjected to earthquake ground motions. Numerical results show that the displacement and stress responses of the bridge to earthquake loadings are significantly reduced when viscoelastic dampers are added to it.