Seismic Performance Evaluation of Padma Multipurpose Bridge

S. M. Moniruzzaman1 , Khondaker Sakil Ahmed2

MSc Student, Military Institute of Science & Technology, moniruzzaman94@gmail.com

(1)

Associate Professor, Military Institute of Science & Technology, drksa@ce.mist.ac.bd

(2)

Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) is one of the most challenging projects of the world
not only because of its size and overall project cost, but also complex geometry,
construction difficulty and harsh environmental condition. The bridge is expected to play a
significant role in the national economy as it will connect the south-west part to the
northern and eastern part of Bangladesh, by crossing the mighty Padma river. This
study investigates the seismic performance of the PMB for site-specific design response
spectrum, which was designed as per AASHTO-LRFD specifications. The bridge consists
of 41 spans with a total length of 6.15 km, making it the longest bridge of the country. A
representative segment constitutes of six-span totaling a 900 m composite warren truss
bridge has been considered for detailed investigation in the current study. A three-
dimensional numerical model of the bridge system is developed using commercially
available structural analysis programs. The numerical model includes the super-structure,
pier, pier cap, bearing components, pile cap and battered piling system. Moreover, soil-pile
interaction effect is considered in the numerical model. Both nonlinear pushover and
dynamic time history analyses are performed to investigate the seismic performance of the
studied segment of the bridge. The ground motion records considered in this study
correspond to three different hazard levels with a return period of 475, 975 and 2475 years.
The outcome will give an overview of component and system level seismic performance of
the PMB.