Seismic response and overturning of double-column rocking column bridge system

Rocking structures with self-centering capacity can control the damage in the rocking interface to protect the major structure from damage. To investigate the seismic response of a rocking double-column bridge system, a dynamic analytical model of rigid bodies was used to predict the seismic response of a rocking bridge system based on the Lagrange method and momentum conservation law. This analytical model was used to perform a case study in practice, parametric analysis and overturning analysis. It can be concluded that the rocking double-column bridge system with dimensions in practice can satisfy the seismic design demand of the E2 earthquake according to the seismic design code of bridges in China. With the increase of the slenderness and size of columns, the seismic response of this bridge system decreases. Overturning acceleration spectra and two overturning modes of rocking double-column bridge system were obtained due to Ricker wavelets. The transition phenomenon from overturning mode I to overturning mode Ⅱ should be paid attention in seismic design. The enlarged bottom section of rocking columns was proposed to limit the overturning of the rocking bridge system.