Behavior of Bridge Piles Substructure Embedded Into Soil Layers during Earthquake

Abstract

The evaluation of the behavior of bridge piers with soils surrounding them during earthquakes became necessary in Iraq especially after the influential earthquakes hit middle and south of Iraq during the last few years. A three dimensional finite element model for the bridge substructure and soil surrounding the bored piles with the actual dimensions and actual properties corresponding to "Sheikh Sa'ad Bridge" in Sheikh Sa'ad district at Wasit Governorate 37km south east of Kut city is presented. The model loaded with earthquake ground motion applied as lateral forces at one side of piles cap. The Earthquake hit 11 km from Ali-Al Gharbee in Maysan Province in 2012 with a magnitude of M_L = 4.9 is used as the input ground motion. The response of the pier was investigated and the performance of piles and the soil surrounding them was examined. Then these typical piers and surrounding soils were checked weather they can bear the stresses induced due to these earthquake forces. From this work, it was found that typical piers used in bridges in Iraq can sustain earthquakes up to those with a magnitude of M_L = 6.8 maximum.