Cyclic Testing of Ductile End Diaphragms for Slab-on-Girder Steel Bridges

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Ductile end diaphragms have been proposed as seismic retrofit strategy to protect the substructures of existing steel slab-on-girder bridges from damage during earthquakes. This paper presents the results from an experimental program to investigate the adequacy of some proposed details. Cyclic tests on full-size girder specimens having the proposed ductile diaphragms demonstrate that these can possess adequate initial elastic stiffness, strength, and capacity to dissipate hysteretic energy in the intended manner. The specimens developed a rotational capacity of 0.2 rad when energy dissipation devices of the TADAS (Triangular-plate Added Damping And Stiffness) type were used, and link distortion angles of 0.08 to 0.11 rad when eccentrically braced frame and shear panel systems were in place, corresponding to average ductilities of 8 to 10 before failure. Better performance of the eccentrically braced frame system would have been possible had lateral support been provided at the ductile link. However, ducti...