Seismic Analysis of the Signature Bridge, New Delhi

Sunil M+; Pradeep Kumar T.V+; D.K Paul++

ABSTRACT

“Signature Bridge” is a cable stayed bridge proposed across the river Yamuna at Wazirabad in
New Delhi. New Delhi is in seismic zone IV which is seismically very active and the tectonic
elements of the area are considered capable of generating an earthquake of severe intensity.
This cable-stayed bridge is the first in Delhi and amongst the few in India. It has four lanes
each way and has a semi harp shaped cable stay solution having 15 pairs of front stay cables
and 4 pairs of back stay cables with a 162 m high inclined-bow-shaped pylon nearly double
the height of Qutab Minar. The total span of the bridge is 575 m and the main cable supported
span is 251 m. This paper aims to advance the understanding about the behaviour of this
bridge under seismic excitation through investigations analytically using a finite element
program. The seismic forces are generated using a site-specific response spectrum with
estimated peak horizontal ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.20 g for the proposed bridge site.
The maximum stresses in the under the longitudinal and transverse excitations were observed
at the base of pylon and was found to be within the allowable limits. This is a preliminary
study conducted by the author for the proposed bridge using site specific response spectra and
a more detailed dynamic time history analysis is in progress.

Key words: Cable stayed bridge, Response spectrum, Peak ground acceleration and modal parameters.

INTRODUCTION

Behavior of cable stayed bridge is of great importance as the influences of moving loads,
seismic and wind forces, on these structures mainly depend on its characteristics. Major
structural components of cable stayed bridges are deck, tower (pylons), cables and
abutments/piers. The structure is of nonlinear nature and highly indeterminate. The
development and application of electronic computers opened up new and practically unlimited
possibilities for the exact solution of these highly statically indeterminate systems and for
precise statical analysis of their 3-D performance. The dynamic analysis demands various
elements of cable stayed bridge to be modeled properly so as to represent the actual behavior
of structures as closely as possible. The role of dynamic forces in cable stayed or suspension
bridges is very important [8]. More than for any other type of bridge, such forces can even
determine the very feasibility of the project. There are in general, three types of problem:
i. Aerodynamic stability and safety
ii. Safety against earthquakes
iii. Vibrations due to traffic
The vibrations due to wind and traffic [7] can result in inconvenience to users. These
physiological effects are generally very subjective experiences. If vibrations become large,
damage can occur too. Analysis of all these dynamic phenomena, including seismic effects,
calls for prior knowledge of the free vibration characteristics (frequencies and vibration